Nuclear Power Demonstration Closure Project

Environmental assessment (EA) start date: May 5, 2016
Reference number: 80121
Proponent: Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL)
Location: Rolphton, Ontario

Visit the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry (CIAR) website for all information and documentation related to the project.

Latest update

• January 15, 2021 – CNL submission of revised draft EIS and responses to federal and provincial information requests deemed incomplete
• September 23, 2020 – Administrative Protocol between Canadian Nuclear Laboratories and the CNSC for the Nuclear Power Demonstration Closure Project(Revision 2 – July 2020)
  • Appendix A (Revision 4, July 2020)
• May 5, 2020 – CNL submission of revised draft EIS and responses to federal and provincial information requests deemed incomplete
• March 2019 - Participant Funding for CNL’s Nuclear Power Demonstration Closure Project
• June 11, 2018 – Nuclear Power Demonstration Closure Project – Update on the Status of the Environmental Assessment Process
• February 9, 2018 – Review of CNL's Draft Environmental Impact Statement Completed (source: CEAA website)
• November 28, 2017 – Updated Public Notice: Public Comment Period Extension
• November 16, 2017 – Canada's nuclear regulator invites you to open houses in Deep River (Ontario) and Rapides-des-Joachims (Quebec)
• November 15, 2017 – Public comments invited on draft environmental impact statement for Nuclear Power Demonstration Closure Project (source: CEAA website)
• September 26, 2017 – Upcoming public comment period for the Nuclear Power Demonstration Closure Project
• March 8, 2017 – Record of Decision on the Scope of Environmental Assessments for Three Proposed Projects at Existing CNL's Facilities
• May 25, 2016 – Notice of Participant Funding Offering (PFP Decision Report)
• May 24, 2016 – Public Comments Invited on Project Description (source: CEAA website)
• May 5, 2016 – Notice of Commencement of an Environmental Assessment (source: CEAA website)

About the project

CNL is proposing to decommission the Nuclear Power Demonstration Waste Facility, a former nuclear generating station that operated until 1987. The facility is located in Renfrew County, Ontario, on the south bank of the Ottawa River approximately 225 kilometres northwest of Ottawa.

The structures that currently remain onsite include the main reactor building, a diesel generator, a ventilation stack, a pressure relief duct, a guardhouse, foundations from previously removed structures, two landfills, buried utilities and drainage systems, and temporary structures such as sea containers and portable washrooms.

CNL is proposing an in situ (leaving in place) decommissioning approach. The following activities are proposed:

• assembly and operation of a grout batch mixing plant
• grouting of below-grade (underground) structures
• removal of above-grade structures for use as backfill
• installation of concrete cap and engineered barrier over the grouted area
• final site restoration
• long-term care and maintenance activities

Some temporary infrastructure – such as mobile offices and washrooms, as well as an increase to the electrical services – would also be required in order to facilitate decommissioning. Water-holding tanks and fuel storage may also be required on site to support the proposed project. Additional groundwater monitoring wells would be installed, as required, to monitor the performance of the in situ decommissioned facility.

Under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act, CNL’s proposal requires an amendment to its existing Decommissioning Waste Facility Licence issued by the CNSC. An EA conducted under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 is required, and an EA decision affirming that the proposed activities will not cause significant adverse environmental effects, before the CNSC can make a licensing decision on this proposal.

Further information

The public registry for this project is maintained on the CIAR. If you wish to receive email notifications when the CNSC’s website is updated, including notices for hearings, meetings and PFP funding opportunities, subscribe to the CNSC mailing list. For questions or information directly related to this EA, contact:

Marcelle Phaneuf

Environmental Assessment Officer
Environmental Assessment Division
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
P. O. Box 1046, Station B
Ottawa, ON
K1P 5S9
Telephone: 613-947-3209 or 1-800-668-5284
Fax: 613-995-5086
Email: cnsc.ea-ee.ccsn@canada.ca

Or contact the CNSC.

The CNSC regulates the use of nuclear energy and materials to protect health, safety, security and the environment, and to implement Canada's international commitments on the peaceful use of nuclear energy; and to disseminate objective scientific, technical and regulatory information to the public.