Transport licensing
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) issues licences to transport nuclear substances in specific situations. The information to be submitted as part of the application is set out in the Packaging and Transport of Nuclear Substances Regulations, 2015. CNSC staff review the information after an application is received to ensure the shipment can be done safely.
Overview
The Packaging and Transport of Nuclear Substances Regulations, 2015 (PTNSR 2015) requires that specific transport licences be issued in the following circumstances:
- transport of Category I, II or III nuclear material
- transport of nuclear substances while in transit
- transport of nuclear substances contained in large objects
- transport of nuclear substances when the transport cannot meet all of the regulatory requirements
- transport of nuclear substances that require a multilateral approval of shipments
- transport of nuclear substances that require a special use vessel
Key points
Note these key points about transport licensing:
- Transport licences are mandatory for specific scenarios involving nuclear substances under Canadian regulations.
- Applications must demonstrate equivalent levels of safety when full regulatory compliance can't be achieved.
- CNSC staff conduct thorough, robust reviews of each application and consult subject matter experts when needed.
- Peer reviews and opportunities to be heard ensure the fairness and thoroughness of the transport licensing process.
Licence applications
Details on the specific information requirements for transport licence applications can be found in section 7 of the PTNSR 2015. The information required for a licence application depends on the type of licence that is requested.
Common types of licences
Most licences are issued for in-transit shipments and for the transport of Category I, II and III nuclear material. A licence may occasionally be issued for shipments that cannot meet all regulatory requirements. In these cases, however, the applicant must still be able to demonstrate at least an equivalent level of safety.
In-transit shipments
In-transit shipments refer to the movement of nuclear substances through Canada, when both the origin and final destination are outside Canada. A CNSC licence to transport is required when nuclear substances transiting Canada are transported in certified packages. Unless a shipment contains fissile material, a transport licence is not required for shipments transiting Canada by aircraft or by ship where no stop on Canadian land is scheduled.
The application must include the reason for selecting a route through Canada.
Transport of Category I, II and III nuclear material
A CNSC licence to transport is required for shipments of Category I, II or III nuclear material, as defined in section 1 of the Nuclear Security Regulations. These materials include:
- plutonium
- various grades of enriched uranium-235
- irradiated fuels consisting of depleted or natural uranium, thorium or low-enriched fuel
A transportation security plan must be submitted for CNSC as part of the licence application. REGDOC-2.12.3, Security of Nuclear Substances: Sealed Sources and Category I, II and III Nuclear Material, offers assistance in preparing a written transportation security plan.
Shipments that cannot meet all the requirements
In some circumstances, a proposed shipment cannot be transported in accordance with all of the regulatory requirements. The applicant must provide justification in this case as to why the shipment cannot be made in compliance with the regulations.
The applicant must demonstrate that the overall level of safety for the shipment is at least equivalent to that which would be provided if all the applicable requirements had been met. The licence is issued only if the shipment can be done safely.
Licence assessments
Applications are assessed by CNSC staff who review the information to ensure that the application is complete and that the shipment can be done safely. The assessment may involve specialists, such as nuclear security specialists, depending on the type of nuclear substances being shipped.
Applications are peer reviewed to ensure all requirements for the issuance of a licence are met. A recommendation is made to the CNSC designated officer who is responsible for issuing the licence.
An “opportunity to be heard” is available where approval is not recommended. The applicant can provide additional information and justification demonstrating that the shipment can be done safely.
Licensees are subject to inspections by a CNSC inspector once a licence is issued.
The review of an application can take 1 to 2 months depending on the type of application submitted. Service standards for licensing decisions are posted on the service standards page of the CNSC website. Fees for the issuance of a transport licence are provided in the fee schedule that is updated annually and posted on the cost recovery program page.
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