Whiteshell Laboratories decommissioning

Start date: June 2, 1999
FEAI reference number: 18737
Proponent: Canadian Nuclear Laboratories Ltd. (CNL)
Location: Pinawa, Manitoba
Canadian Impact Assessment Registry - Archives (iaac-aeic.gc.ca)

Latest Update

• October 23 and 24, 2024: CNL Whiteshell Laboratories licence renewal hearing
• October 13, 2023: Administrative monetary penalty issued to Canadian Nuclear Laboratories Ltd.
• April 27, 2023: Event Initial Report
• July 6, 2016: Decommissioning of Whiteshell Laboratories (2002) (archived)
• December 19, 2002: CNSC announces decision on Atomic Energy Canada's Application to Decommission the Whiteshell Laboratories

Project Description

In 1997, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) decided to discontinue research programs and operations at Whiteshell Laboratories, near Pinawa, Manitoba. The CNSC determined that an environmental assessment (EA) was required before a decommissioning licence application could proceed.

In November 1999, the CNSC issued, for comment, a scope of project and assessment document related to the EA. The final version of the document, published on December 22, 1999, was used to guide the EA studies. The EA was submitted to the Minister of the Environment and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency in December 2001 for public review and decision under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. The EA was approved and, in 2002, AECL received a licence to decommission the Whiteshell Laboratories site.

The licence was transferred to CNL in October 2014. CNL remains the current licensee. Since 2002, significant decommissioning progress has been made, with activities including:

• demolition of redundant buildings
• phased decommissioning of the main research building
• severing or redirection of services where necessary
• construction of new enabling facilities
• repurposing of buildings to support decommissioning
• initiation of sub-surface investigations into the conditions of various containment structures inside the waste management area

Further Information

The CNSC maintains a public registry of documents related to its environmental assessments. Lists and copies of the documents may be obtained upon request.

For questions or information directly related to the environmental assessment for this project, please contact the CNSC.