PFP funding for topics of regulatory interest

View topics of regulatory interest
View upcoming Commission proceedings

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) has established a new funding opportunity as part of its Participant Funding Program (PFP). The PFP topics of regulatory interest list is designed to encourage experts, researchers, academics and Indigenous groups in choosing relevant topics to present value-added information to the Commission as part of its regulatory processes. Research on these topics may have already been conducted, but not yet presented before the Commission.

Note: Value-added information is new, distinctive and relevant information that contributes to a better understanding of the anticipated effects of a project.

What are topics of regulatory interest?

CNSC's list of topics of regulatory interest includes subjects that have been of interest to the Commission, Indigenous peoples and the public at previous Commission proceedings. The CNSC selected topics that are most relevant to Commission proceedings for major nuclear facilities taking place over the next five years. The list of topics will be updated regularly to include new potential areas of interest to the Commission, Indigenous peoples and the public.

Note: Major nuclear facilities include uranium mines, nuclear power plants, nuclear substance processing, or nuclear waste facilities.

Please note that the list is not exhaustive and funding can also be requested for the presentation of information on other relevant topics pertaining to the CNSC's mission or to upcoming Commission proceedings.

Who can apply?

All individuals, Indigenous groups and not-for-profit organizations are eligible to apply if they have conducted research, are planning to conduct research, or have traditional knowledge related to any of the CNSC's topics of regulatory interest or on other relevant topics.

How do I apply?

If you are interested in applying for PFP topics of regulatory interest funding, please follow these steps:

  1. Identify a topic within the CNSC's list of topics of regulatory interest, or identify another topic pertaining to the CNSC's mission or to upcoming Commission proceedings, which aligns with your area of expertise.
  2. Determine your eligibility for PFP funding by reviewing the eligibility criteria in the PFP Guide.
  3. Learn about the PFP funding application process by reviewing the PFP Guide.
  4. Contact the CNSC PFP Administrator to determine if your proposal is appropriate and within the scope of PFP topics of regulatory interest funding.
  5. Review the list of upcoming CNSC Commission proceedings and determine which upcoming proceeding is most relevant for your topic (note: all successful applicants will be required to present their topic at a related Commission proceeding).
  6. Complete and submit a PFP Funding Application Form.

The CNSC will accept all funding applications for consideration on an ongoing basis, up to five years in advance of and up to six months prior to, a related Commission proceeding. Applications will be reviewed by an independent funding review committee, which will make funding recommendations to the CNSC. All successful applicants will be required to submit a report to the Commission and present a summary of their topic and expertise at a related Commission proceeding.

Adam Levine
Participant Funding Program Administrator
613-947-6382
1-800-668-5284
pfp@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca

CNSC Participant Funding Program topics of regulatory interest

General topics potentially relevant to more than one facility type

  1. Practices and methods for the environmental monitoring of:

    • surface and groundwater
    • water emissions
    • air emissions
    • effluent control
    • thermal effets
  2. Participation in the CNSC's Independent Environmental Monitoring Program
  3. Emerging or new knowledge regarding the monitoring of levels of nuclear substances (e.g., tritium) or hazardous substances (e.g., selenium) in local foodstuffs, drinking water, farm produce and Indigenous traditional country foods
  4. Comparative analysis of risks and their consequences in various industrial sectors
  5. Indigenous traditional knowledge and land use around existing or potential facilities licensed by the CNSC

Nuclear generating stations

  1. Release of tritium to the environment including:

    • tritiated water (HTO)
    • organically-bound tritium (OBT)
    • tritium bioaccumulation

  2. The impacts of cooling water intake systems on:

    • impingement and entrainment of fish
    • fish habitat
    • fish populations and fisheries
    • mammals and their populations
    • bodies of water adjacent to existing Nuclear Generating Stations (NGSs)

  3. The impacts of cooling water discharge systems on:

    • thermal effects
    • fish habitat
    • fish populations and fisheries
    • mammals and their populations
  4. Technologies for reducing impingement and entrainment of fish in CANDU cooling water intake and discharge systems
  5. Seismicity trends around existing Canadian NGSs in Canada and their potential effects on those facilities

  6. Probabilistic safety assessments (PSAs) including:

    • whole site risk assessments
    • the consideration of emergency mitigating equipment in PSAs
    • the consideration of aging management in PSAs

  7. Approaches to external and fire hazard screening, including:

    • statistical analysis for the prediction of safety concerns or accidents
    • consideration of uncertainty as related to risk-informed decision making
    • consideration of uncertainty as related to risk-informed decision making
  8. Emerging or new knowledge regarding severe accident progression for multi-unit sites

  9. CANDU aging management as it relates to:

    • major components
    • fuel channel components
    • pressure boundary components
    • containment structures

  10. Emergency preparedness including:

    • emergency planning at NGSs and the selection of appropriate exercise scenarios during planning
    • emergency preparedness practices
  11. Decommissioning strategies for CANDU NGSs
  12. Refurbishment and life extension of CANDU NGSs

Uranium mines and mills

  1. Engineering design and long-term stability and safety of tailings facilities
  2. Dose management practices for uranium workers
  3. Decommissioning practices for uranium mills and tailings facilities
  4. The management of radioactive wastes resulting from uranium mining operations

Nuclear substance processing facilities

  1. Release of tritium to the environment including:

    • tritiated water (HTO)
    • organically-bound tritium (OBT)
    • tritium bioaccumulation
  2. The management of radioactive wastes resulting from nuclear substance processing facilities

Waste management facilities

  • Strategies for the management of:
    • low-and intermediate-level radioactive wastes
    • radioactive fuel and other high-level radioactive waste

Nuclear research and test facilities

  1. Emergency preparedness practices
  2. Strategies for the decommissioning of nuclear research facilities and laboratories

Upcoming Commission proceedings (2017–23)

Below is a list of upcoming Commission proceedings, covering a six-year period. The list will be updated as new hearing and meeting dates are scheduled. The proceedings are subject to change, and the dates listed are tentative. An official Notice of Hearing or Notice of Meeting will be released once the dates and locations have been confirmed.

2017 Commission proceedings
Proponent Commission proceeding topic (project) Tentative Commission proceeding date (subject to change) Facility type
Ontario Power Generation Western Waste Management Facility licence renewal and expansion April 2017 Waste management facility
New Brunswick Power Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station licence renewal April 2017 Nuclear generating station
AREVA Resources Inc. McClean Lake Mill licence renewal May 2017 Uranium mill
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories Chalk River Near Surface Disposal Facility Project environmental Assessment Fall 2017 Waste disposal facility
2018 Commission proceedings
Proponent Commission proceeding topic (project) Tentative Commission proceeding date (subject to change) Facility type
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories Near Surface Disposal Facility Project environmental assessment, and Chalk River site licence renewal January 2018 Nuclear research and test facility - Waste management facility
Ontario Power Generation Pickering Nuclear Generating Station licence renewal June 2018 Nuclear generating station
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories Environmental assessment for the in situ decommissioning of the Whiteshell Reactor #1, and Whiteshell site licence renewal October 2018 Waste management facility
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories Nuclear Power Demonstration Closure Project environmental assessment December 2018 Waste management facility
2019 Commission proceedings
Proponent Commission proceeding topic (project) Tentative Commission proceeding date (subject to change) Facility type
AREVA Resources Inc. Cluff Lake Project licence renewal (decommissioning) May 2019 Uranium mine and mill (decommissioned)
Best Theratronics Ltd. Best Theratronics licence renewal May 2019 Nuclear substance processing facility
2020 Commission proceedings
Proponent Commission proceeding topic (project) Tentative Commission proceeding date (subject to change) Facility type
Bruce Power Bruce Nuclear Generating Station licence renewal March 2020 Nuclear generating station
BWXT Nuclear Energy Canada Inc. BWXT Nuclear Energy Canada Peterborough and Toronto licence renewal November 2020 Nuclear fuel fabrication facility
Ontario Power Generation Darlington Nuclear Generating Station refurbishment mid-term update to the Commission November 2020 Nuclear generating station
2021 Commission proceedings
Proponent Commission proceeding topic (project) Tentative Commission proceeding date (subject to change) Facility type
Cameco Corporation Cigar Lake Mine Licence Renewal April 2021 Uranium Mine
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories Port Granby Long-Term Low-level Radioactive Waste Management Project licence renewal December 2021 Nuclear waste substance facility
Cameco Corporation Blind River Refinery licence renewal December 2021 Nuclear substance processing facility
Cameco Corporation Port Hope Fuel Manufacturing licence renewal December 2021 Nuclear fuel fabrication facility
2022 Commission proceedings
Proponent Commission proceeding topic (project) Tentative Commission proceeding date (subject to change) Facility type
Canadian Light Source Inc. Canadian Light Source licence renewal March/April 2022 Research particle accelerators
TRIUMF Accelerators Inc. TRIUMF licence renewal March/April 2022 Research particle accelerators
SRB Technologies (Canada) Inc. SRB Technologies licence renewal May 2022 Uranium fuel cycle and processing facility
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories Port Hope Long-Term Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management facility licence renewal October 2022 Low-level waste management facility
2023 Commission proceedings
Proponent Commission proceeding topic (project) Tentative Commission proceeding date (subject to change) Facility type
Ontario Power Generation Darlington Waste Management Facility licence renewal January/February 2023 Waste management facility
Various SLOWPOKE-2 reactor licence renewals for Royal Military College of Canada, École Polytechnique de Montréal, Saskatchewan Research Council, University of Alberta April 2023 Research reactors
SRB Technologies (Canada) Inc. SRB Technologies licence renewal May 2022 Uranium fuel cycle and processing facility
Ontario Power Generation Pickering Nuclear Generating Station licence renewal June 2023 Nuclear generating station
Cameco Corporation Beaverlodge licence renewal September 2023 Uranium mine and mill (decommissioned)
Cameco Corporation Key Lake Mill licence renewal September 2023 Uranium mine and mill
Cameco Corporation McArthur River Mine licence renewal September 2023 Uranium mine and mill
Cameco Corporation Rabbit Lake Mine and Mill licence renewal September 2023 Uranium mine and mill
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