Licensing Process for Proposed Darlington Nuclear Power Plant
March 18, 2011
When an organization is interested in building a new nuclear power plant in Canada, it is subject to some rigorous licensing phases to ensure the safety of people and the environment.
In September 2006, the CNSC received a licence application from Ontario Power Generation (OPG) to build a new nuclear power plant with up to four new reactors for the production of approximately 4,800 megawatts. The proposed project would be located near OPG’s existing Darlington site, on the shores of Lake Ontario, in the Municipality of Clarington.
Large-scale projects such as nuclear power plants undergo an Environmental Assessment (EA) that includes public consultation. In an EA, the applicant assesses all of the new facility’s potential impacts on the local community and the environment.
Joint Review Panel
In October 2009, a three-member Joint Review Panel (JRP) was mandated by the Minister of the Environment and the President of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission to assess the environmental effects of the proposed project and review the application for a licence to prepare a site.
JRP public hearing
The Joint Review Panel’s public hearing for OPG’s Darlington project will address both the EA and the application for a licence to prepare a site.
After the closure of the hearing records, the JRP will submit its EA report to the federal Minister of the Environment outlining its conclusions, rationale and recommendations. Subject to the Government of Canada’s response to the Panel’s report, the JRP may then proceed to make a decision on the proponent’s application for a licence to prepare a site.
After the decision on the application for a licence to prepare a site, the JRP is dissolved and all further licensing decisions are made by the Commission Tribunal.
Next licensing steps
If OPG is granted a licence to prepare a site, the next step is the licence to construct, and licence to operate. Licensing decisions will include a Commission Tribunal public hearing. Projected dates for these phases are available under the OPG's project milestones chart.
As part of a licence to construct, the licence application review includes a range of subjects, such as the assessment of external hazards like earthquakes, flooding, fire and extreme weather events; measures for prevention and mitigation of severe accidents; emergency preparedness; malfunctions, accidents and malevolent acts; and evaluation of potential radiological dose consequences.
After a licence is granted
Once the construction and operating licences are granted, the CNSC monitors the licensee’s compliance programs, on an ongoing basis, to ensure that laws, regulations, standards and licence conditions are adhered to.