Ontario Power Generation's Proposed Deep Geological Repository for Low and Intermediate Level Radioactive Waste Rejected
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Ontario Power Generation has been promoting a plan to bury low and intermediate level radioactive wastes beneath the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station in Kincardine on the shore of Lake Huron since 2004 In 2013 OPG said the project would not move forward with out the support of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation, and in January 2020 SON membership soundly rejected the project. OPG says they are looking at options.
June 26, 2020 — The Minister of Environment and Climate Change terminated the environmental assessment process of the designated project at the request of the proponent.
June 26, 2020 - Federal Minister of the Environment Issues Notice of Termination
June 15, 2020 - Minister of ECCC's Letter to the President of the CNSC - Update on the DGR Project and Notification of the Termination of the Environmental Assessment Process June 15, 2020 - Minister of ECCC's Letter to Ontario Power Generation - Response to OPG's letter Requesting Termination of the Environmental Assessment of the DGR Project May 27, 2020 - Ontario Power Generation's letter to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada - Request for Terminating the Environmental Assessment for the DGR Project May 27, 2020 - Letter from Ontario Power Generation to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission Regarding its Decision to Withdraw the Site Preparation and Construction Licence Application for the Deep Geologic Repository for Low and Intermediate Level Radioactive Waste Project.D January 31, 2020 - Saugeen Ojibway Nation rejects OPG's proposed DGR |
Ontario Power Generation’s Nuclear Waste Burial Plan: Round Five The webinar provides an overview of key issues, summarize technical reviews by SOS Great Lakes and Northwatch, and help participants prepare for the March 6th comment deadline. Watch it!
MEDIA REPORTS
Saugeen Ojibway Nation Votes No on DGR. January 31, 2020 OPG to explore other options to Bruce DGR proposal after SON vote, February 1, 2020 OPG identifies most of Ontario as alternate "location" to bury nuclear waste Jennifer Wells, Toronto Star, January 10 2017 Ontario Power Generation was asked by the federal government to identify "actual locations" as alternates for its plan to bury nuclear waste OPG report on planned nuclear waste bunker blasted as 'inadequate' The Canadian Press . January 10, 2017 Opponents of a planned nuclear waste bunker have hit back at a report affirming the Lake Huron shoreline as the best place to locate the facility. |
Background
Thirty-three days of hearings ended in September 2014. Since that time, the three-person panel - appointed by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and the federal Minister of the Environment - have been considering the tens of thousands of pages of written submissions, including OPG's proposal, and hearing transcripts. Final comments were filed by hearing participants - including public intervenors, Saugeen Ojibway Nation, government departments, the CNSC and OPG - in October. Submissions outlined numerous outstanding issues and uncertainties related to the OPG proposal. Transcripts and video recordings of the 33 day hearing are available on-line. Final comments have been posted on the registry. View final select final comments here.
On June 3, 2015 the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency initiated a public comment period for the last phase of the environmental assessment process for the proposed Deep Geologic Repository (DGR) Project for Low and Intermediate Level Radioactive Waste in Ontario, inviting comments on the "potential conditions related to possible mitigation measures and follow-up requirements that could be necessary, if the project is authorized to proceed." By September 1, public comments on the JRP report and the “potential conditions” had to be submitted to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency' . In order to accommodate the 90-day comment period, the 120-day timeline for the EA decision wasg extended to December 2, 2015 (read more) and was then extended into February 2016.
Thirty-three days of hearings ended in September 2014. Since that time, the three-person panel - appointed by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and the federal Minister of the Environment - have been considering the tens of thousands of pages of written submissions, including OPG's proposal, and hearing transcripts. Final comments were filed by hearing participants - including public intervenors, Saugeen Ojibway Nation, government departments, the CNSC and OPG - in October. Submissions outlined numerous outstanding issues and uncertainties related to the OPG proposal. Transcripts and video recordings of the 33 day hearing are available on-line. Final comments have been posted on the registry. View final select final comments here.
On June 3, 2015 the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency initiated a public comment period for the last phase of the environmental assessment process for the proposed Deep Geologic Repository (DGR) Project for Low and Intermediate Level Radioactive Waste in Ontario, inviting comments on the "potential conditions related to possible mitigation measures and follow-up requirements that could be necessary, if the project is authorized to proceed." By September 1, public comments on the JRP report and the “potential conditions” had to be submitted to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency' . In order to accommodate the 90-day comment period, the 120-day timeline for the EA decision wasg extended to December 2, 2015 (read more) and was then extended into February 2016.
Ontario Power Generation is asking the federal government to approve their proposal to bury nuclear waste under the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station, near Kincardine on the eastern shore of Lake Huron.
It's not the only one! The Nuclear Waste Management Organization - an association of nuclear power companies - is currently studying several communities in the Bruce area, a dozen in northern Ontario and three northern Saskatchewan as potential burial sites for high level nuclear fuel waste. Learn more
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Currently, the low and intermediate level radioactive wastes from the Darlington, Pickering and Bruce nuclear generating stations are shipped from the reactor stations to the Bruce station to be incinerated or stored in the Western Waste Management Facility. If the burial proposal is approved, the radioactive wastes stored at the WWMF would be buried on-site.
Low level wastes include contaminated mops, rags, and other industrial items that have become contaminated with low levels of radioactivity during routine clean-up and maintenance activities at nuclear generating stations. Intermediate level radioactive waste consists primarily of used nuclear reactor components, ion-exchange resins and filters used in reactor water filtration systems. Intermediate level wastes are highly radioactive. Nuclear fuel waste is called high level waste, and it is not currently proposed to be included in the wastes to be placed in the underground caverns Ontario Power Generation is seeking approval to construct at the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station. However, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization is currently studying more than twenty communities in Canada as potential burial locations for high level waste. Learn more |
