Deep Geologic Repository Project - Joint Review Panel Environmental Assessment Report Released Publicly

OTTAWA, May 6, 2015 /CNW/ - Today, the Minister of the Environment, Leona Aglukkaq, received the Report of the Joint Review Panel for the proposed Deep Geologic Repository (DGR) for Low and Intermediate Level Radioactive Waste project in Ontario. 

Under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012, the federal government will now review the Panel's report before issuing a decision statement on whether the project may proceed. If the project is authorized to proceed to the next phase of the permitting process, the decision statement will include conditions related to the project that will be legally binding on the proponent.

Prior to the federal government's decision on the project, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency will invite Aboriginal groups and registered participants to comment on potential conditions relating to possible mitigation measures and follow-up requirements that could be necessary, if the project is authorized to proceed. These comments will be taken into account by the Minister of the Environment for the decision statement.

Subject to the federal government's decision, the Joint Review Panel, as a panel of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act, will make a decision whether to issue a licence to Ontario Power Generation to prepare a site and construct the deep geologic repository facility.

The Panel report, which includes a summary, is available on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry at ceaa-acee.gc.ca registry number 17520.

Quick Facts

• The DGR is a proposal by Ontario Power Generation to prepare a site, and construct and operate a facility for the long-term management of low and intermediate level radioactive waste at the Bruce nuclear site, within the Municipality of Kincardine, Ontario.
• Low level waste consists of industrial items that have become contaminated during routine clean up and maintenance activities at nuclear generating stations, such as mops, rags and protective clothing.
• Intermediate level waste consists primarily of used mechanical parts, ion-exchange resins and filters.
• Used nuclear fuel will not be stored or managed in the DGR.

Associated Links

• Proposed DGR project (Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency)
• Basics of Environmental Assessment (Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency)

 

SOURCE Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency

Shane Buckingham, Office of the Minister of the Environment, Telephone: [phone]; Lucille Jamault, Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, Telephone: [phone], [email protected]