Darlington Nuclear Power Plant

Environmental Assessment and Site Preparation

Project Milestone

Responsibility
and Status

Date

Comment

CNSC and other Federal Authorities

Applicant

Ontario Power Generation applies for a Licence to Prepare Site (PDF)
- in English only

Completed by Ontario Power Generation (OPG)

September
2006

Notice of Environmental Assessment (EA) posted

Read Project Description (PDF) - in English only

Completed by CNSC

May
2007

Additional information was required to complete the Project Description.  This was completed in 2007 and allowed the Environmental Assessment to start.

Federal Minister of Environment refers EA to a Joint Review Panel (JRP)

Completed by the Minister of Environment

March
2008

Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Guidelines and JRP Agreement published for comments

Completed by
CNSC/CEAA

September
2008

Comment period on draft Environmental Impact Statement Guidelines and JRP Agreement

Completed

September
to
November
2008

Opportunity for the public, Aboriginal groups and other stakeholders to review and provide comments.

Final EIS Guidelines and JRP Agreement published

Completed by the Minister of Environment

March 2009

Finalized by the federal Minister of the Environment, in consultation with the President of CNSC, based on comments received.

Completed by MPMO

May
2009

An MPMO Project Agreement (source: CEAA) is an agreement between federal Deputy Ministers that outlines the process by which federal departments or agencies will carry out their particular roles or responsibilities during the federal regulatory review of a proposed major resource project. The agreement includes a timeline and schedule for the completion of the regulatory review with regular milestones to allow tracking of progress. 

Ontario Power Generation submits the EIS with documentation
for Licence to Prepare Site to the CNSC (source OPG)

Completed by OPG

September
2009

Appointment of JRP

Completed by the Minister of Environment and the Governor in Council

October 2009

Appointed by the Minister of the Environment and the Governor in Council in consultation with the President of CNSC.

Notice of EIS review period (Source: CEAA)

Completed by JRP

November
2009

JRP announces the start of the EIS review period with instructions to provide comments.

Start of Public Comment Period

Review of EIS, including public review

Read comments (source: CEAA)

Led by JRP

November 2009

Below are the JRP requests for additional information from OPG during this public comment period.

Six-month comment period** led by JRP, including conformity and technical review of the EIS and complete application for Licence to Prepare Site. Review opportunity for the JRP, public, Aboriginal groups and other stakeholder for comments.

**Six-month comment period excludes time used by applicant to respond to JRP requests. The comment period is extended when there is a request for information by the JRP.

The comment period’s end date is determined according to the amount of time the applicant requires to respond to the JRP’s request.

Public notice of technical information session held on December 15, 2009 in Ottawa (source: CEAA Web site)

Consult presentations and transcripts (source: CEAA Web site)

Completed by JRP

Information Request 1:

JRP letter of request for additional information (source: CEAA)

JRP sends a letter to Ontario Power Generation requesting additional information concerning the EIS and complete application for a Licence to Prepare a Site, submitted by Ontario Power Generation in September 2009 (source: Ontario Power Generation (OPG)) 

CNSC submits no Information Requests (IRs) to JRP

Completed by Ontario Power Generation (OPG)

Information Request 2:

JRP requests from Ontario Power Generation additional information regarding their EIS and complete application (source: CEAA)

JRP letter of request for additional information (PDF) (source: CEAA)

JRP sends a letter to Ontario Power Generation requesting for additional information concerning the EIS and complete application for a Licence to Prepare a Site, submitted by Ontario Power Generation in September 2009
(Source: OPG)

CNSC submits 40 EIS and 21 Licence to Prepare Site (LTPS) IRs to JRP (Source: CEAA)

Ontario Power Generation responds in February and in March to the JRP Information Request 2 of February 2010. (PDF) (Source: CEAA)

Ontario Power Generation responds to JRP’s Information Request 2, concerning the EIS and application for a Licence to Prepare Site submitted by Ontario Power Generation in September 2009 (Source: OPG)

Information Request 3:

JRP letter of request for additional information (PDF) (source: CEAA)

JRP sends a letter to Ontario Power Generation requesting for additional information concerning the EIS and application for a Licence to Prepare Site submitted by Ontario Power Generation in September 2009 (Source: OPG)

CNSC submits 4 EIS IRs to JRP (Source: CEAA)

Ontario Power Generation responds in April to the JRP Information Request 3 of March 2010 (PDF) (Source: CEAA)

Ontario Power Generation responds to JRP’s Information Request 3, [concerning the EIS and application for a Licence to Prepare Site submitted by Ontario Power Generation in September 2009] (Source: OPG)

Information Request 4:

JRP letter of request for additional information (PDF) (source: CEAA)

JRP sends a letter to Ontario Power Generation requesting for additional information concerning the EIS and application for a Licence to Prepare Site submitted by Ontario Power Generation in September 2009 (Source: OPG)

CNSC submits no new IRs to JRP

Ontario Power Generation responds in May and June to the JRP Information Request 4 of April 2010 (PDF) (Source: CEAA)

Ontario Power Generation responds to JRP’s Information Request 4, concerning the EIS and application for a Licence to Prepare Site submitted by Ontario Power Generation in September 2009 (Source: OPG)

Information Request 5:

JRP letter of request for additional information  (PDF) (source: CEAA)

JRP sends a letter to Ontario Power Generation requesting for additional information [concerning the EIS, submitted by Ontario Power Generation in September 2009] (Source: OPG)

CNSC submits 2 LTPS IRs to JRP (Source: CEAA)

Ontario Power Generation responds on June 14, June 30 and August 4 to the JRP Information Request 5 of May 2010. (PDF) (Source: CEAA)

Ontario Power Generation responds to JRP’s Information Request 5, concerning the EIS and application for a Licence to Prepare Site submitted by Ontario Power Generation in September 2009 (Source: OPG)

Information Request 6:

JRP letter of request for additional information (PDF) (source: CEAA)

JRP sends a letter to Ontario Power Generation requesting for additional information concerning the EIS, submitted by Ontario Power Generation in September 2009 (Source: OPG)

CNSC submits no new IRs to JRP

Ontario Power Generation responds to the JRP Information Request 6 of June 2010. (PDF)

Ontario Power Generation responds to JRP’s Information Request 6, concerning the EIS and application for a Licence to Prepare Site submitted by Ontario Power Generation in September 2009] (Source: OPG)

Information Request 7:

JRP letter of request for additional information  (PDF) (source: CEAA)

JRP sends a letter to Ontario Power Generation requesting for additional information [concerning the EIS, submitted by Ontario Power Generation in September 2009] (Source: OPG)

CNSC submits 1 EIS IR to JRP (Source: CEAA)

Ontario Power Generation responds in August to the JRP Information Request 7 of July 29, 2010. (PDF) (Source: CEAA)

Ontario Power Generation responds to JRP’s Information Request 7, concerning the EIS and application for a Licence to Prepare Site submitted by Ontario Power Generation in September 2009 (Source: OPG)

Information Request 8:

JRP letter of request for additional information (PDF) (source: CEAA)

JRP sends a letter to Ontario Power Generation requesting for additional information concerning the EIS, submitted by Ontario Power Generation in September 2009 (Source: OPG)

Ontario Power Generation responds to JRP’s Information Request 8 concerning the EIS and application for a Licence to Prepare Site submitted by Ontario Power Generation in September 2009 (Source: OPG)

Information Request 9:

JRP letter of request for additional information  (PDF) (source: CEAA)

JRP sends a letter to Ontario Power Generation requesting for additional information [concerning the EIS, submitted by Ontario Power Generation in September 2009] (Source: OPG)

CNSC submits 4 IRs related to the EIS and LTPS to JRP (Source: CEAA)

Ontario Power Generation responds in September and October to the JRP Information Request 9 of September 16, 2010. (PDF) (Source: CEAA)

Ontario Power Generation responds to JRP’s Information Request 9, concerning the EIS and application for a Licence to Prepare Site submitted by Ontario Power Generation in September 2009 (Source: OPG)

End of Public Comment Period

Final deadline for public comments on OPG's Environmental Impact Statement and application for a Licence to Prepare a Site (Source: CEAA)

Completed by JRP

Six-month comment period** led by JRP including review of the EIS and application for Licence to Prepare Site. Review opportunity for the JRP, public, Aboriginal groups and other stakeholders for comments.

**Six-month comment period excludes time used by applicant to respond to JRP requests. The comment period is extended when there is a request for information by the JRP.

JRP public Hearing Announcement (Source: CEAA)

Completed by JRP

JRP has determined that the Environmental Impact Statement and the information in support of the application for a Licence to Prepare a Site, along with additional information supplied by Ontario Power Generation, has provided the Panel with enough information to proceed to a public hearing.

JRP to hold Public Hearing

News release: January 25, 2011 (Source: CEAA)

New release: February, 23 2011 - Public hearing Schedule (Source: CEAA)

Updated hearing schedule and list of presenters: March 16, 2011 (Source: CEAA)

CNSC staff at the Darlington Joint Review Panel Hearing

Completed by JRP

A public hearing was held from March 21, 2011 to April 8, 2011 in the Municipality of Clarington, Ontario, to hear views about the EIS and the application for a Licence to Prepare Site from the public, Aboriginal groups, Ontario Power Generation and other stakeholders. 

CNSC staff participated at the hearing to provide its expert opinion to the JRP concerning its review of OPG’s Environmental Impact Statement and Licence to Prepare Site application. (source: OPG).

Notice to Interested Parties or Registered Participants: Announcement of the 20-day deadline for the submission of written final comments: April 27, 2011 (source: CEAA)

Completed by JRP

The JRP gave notice that hearing participants have 20 days to submit written final comments with a deadline of May 17, 2011

Close of public record

Completed by JRP

The JRP reveived and made public all the information that it needs, including undertakings from the hearing, and therfore closed the record for the environmental assessment and is proceeding with the preparation of its environmental assessment report.

The Joint Review Panel Environmental Assessment Report will set out the rationale, conclusions and recommendations of the Panel, in consideration of mitigation measures and a follow-up program, and a summary of comments received from the public during the course of the review. The Panel will deliver its report to the Minister of the Environment within 90 calendar days of today and interested parties (registered participants) will be notified when the Panel Report is submitted.

Subject to the Government of Canada’s response to the Panel Report, the Panel may then proceed to make a decision on the proponent’s application for a Licence to Prepare a Site.

JRP submits the Envionmental Assessment Report to the federal Minister of the Environment (Source : CEAA)

Completed by JRP

The Report is published and presented by the the Minister of the Environment to the Governor in Council. Subject to the Government of Canada response to the report, the Joint Review Panel may then proceed to make a decision on OPG’s Application for a Licence to Prepare Site

Federal Government’s Response to Report

Expected from the Governor in Council

The Governor in Council responds whether the project may proceed or not.

JRP issues Licence to Prepare Site

Expected from JRP

If the Governor in Council’s response is that the project may proceed, the JRP could issue Licence to Prepare Site.

Construction

Project Milestone

Responsibility
and Status

Date

Comment

CNSC and other Federal Authorities

Applicant

Ontario Power Generation applies for Licence to Construct

Expected from OPG

CNSC hold Public Hearings

Expected from CNSC

CNSC holds hearings on the Ontario Power Generation application for a Licence to Construct and decides on the application.

Operation

Project Milestone

Responsibility
and Status

Date

Comment

CNSC and other Federal Authorities

Applicant

Ontario Power Generation applies for Licence to Operate

Expected from OPG

CNSC hold Public Hearings

Expected from CNSC

CNSC holds Public Hearings on the Ontario Power Generation application for a Licence to Operate and decides on the application

Decommissioning and Abandonment

The facility is expected to undergo Decommissioning Licensing by 2076 and Abandonment Licensing by 2088.