Independent Environmental Monitoring Program: Point Lepreau nuclear generating site
| Site name | Point Lepreau nuclear generating site |
|---|---|
| Licensee | New Brunswick Power Nuclear Corporation |
| Facility name | Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station |
| Facility location | Lepreau Peninsula, on the northern shore of the Bay of Fundy, 40 km southwest of Saint John, NB |
| Land acknowledgement | The CNSC acknowledges that the Point Lepreau nuclear generating site is located within the territory covered by the Peace and Friendship Treaties with the Wolastoqey, Passamaquoddy and Mi’kmaq peoples. |
| Facility description | NB Power operates one 705 megawatt CANDU reactor and the Solid Radioactive Waste Management Facility. |
| Environmental protection requirements | In accordance with regulatory requirements under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act, all licensees of Class I nuclear facilities and uranium mines and mills must maintain a comprehensive environmental protection program to monitor and control nuclear and hazardous substances released from the facilities they own and operate. As part of every licensee’s environmental protection program, concentrations of contaminants in the environment must be determined and the potential exposure pathways to the public must be assessed and mitigated. |
Summary
Our Independent Environmental Monitoring Program (IEMP) results from 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020/2021, and 2024 are consistent with the results submitted by NB Power, supporting our assessment that the licensee’s environmental protection program is effective. The IEMP results add to the body of evidence that people and the environment in the vicinity of the Point Lepreau nuclear generating site are protected and that there are no anticipated health impacts from the operation of the facilities on the site.
- Interactive map and IEMP results
- Data table (Download CSV - 186kb)
- Results: (2024) (2020/2021) (2017) (2016) (2015) (2014)
- Related links
Legend
Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Site
1 The < symbol indicates that a result is below the provided laboratory analytical detection limit.
2 N/A – not available.
3 For radiological parameters (expressed as Bq/L, Bq/kg or Bq/m3) where no federal or provincial guidelines exist, our screening levels were established based on conservative assumptions using CSA standard N288.1-20, Guidelines for Modelling Radionuclide Environmental Transport, Fate, and Exposure Associated with the Normal Operation of Nuclear Facilities. The screening level for a particular radionuclide in a particular medium (e.g., water, air, food) represents the activity concentration that would result in a dose of 0.1 mSv/year, a dose at which no impacts on human health are expected. For more information, please refer to the IEMP technical information sheet.
4 Tritiated water (HTO) is a radioactive form of water where the usual hydrogen atoms (H2O) are replaced with tritium. Elemental tritium (HT) refers to the radioactive form of hydrogen gas. Organically bound tritium (OBT) is tritium that is bound to an organic molecule, such as a carbohydrate, fat or protein.
5 For water samples, the results for non-radiological parameters are compared to the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life. Where no CCME guidelines exist, Health Canada’s Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality are used.
6 The screening level for a particular radionuclide in food represents the activity concentration in food that would result in a whole-body effective dose of 0.1 mSv/year to an individual, based on the ingestion exposure pathway. This aligns with the methodology in CSA N288.1-20. The dose of 0.1 mSv/year was chosen to align with the approach used by the World Health Organization and Health Canada for drinking water standards and it represents one tenth of the public dose limit. A conservative regional Indigenous diet, including the consumption rate, was used in the calculations.
2024 IEMP sampling plan
The 2024 IEMP sampling plan for the Point Lepreau nuclear generating site focused on nuclear contaminants. A site-specific sampling plan was developed based on the licensee’s approved environmental monitoring program and our regulatory experience with the site. We endeavour to incorporate traditional Indigenous land use, values and knowledge by engaging with Indigenous Nations and communities on the sampling plan. More information on this engagement is provided in the “Indigenous Nations and communities’ participation” section.
In September 2024, we collected air, water, soil, sediment, sand, vegetation and food samples in publicly accessible areas outside the facility perimeter.
The levels of radioactivity measured in samples were below available guidelines and our own screening levels. Our screening levels are based on conservative assumptions about the exposure that would result in a dose of 0.1 millisieverts (mSv) per year (one tenth of the regulatory public dose limit of 1 mSv/year). As many of the foods and plants of interest to Indigenous Nations and communities are not regularly assessed by us or by other federal or provincial bodies for radioactivity, there are no established guidelines or screening levels for them. As a result, we collected the same species from an area upstream and upwind that is not impacted by the operations of the Point Lepreau nuclear generating site to use as reference samples.
2024 IEMP results
The results of the 2024 IEMP sampling campaign around the Point Lepreau nuclear generating site show that the levels of radioactivity measured in samples were below available guidelines and our screening levels. For samples where no guidelines or screening levels exist, results were compared to reference1 samples. Measurements conducted by the IEMP to date have consistently found levels of radioactivity in the environment to be low and well within the range of natural background radiation levels. As a result, no effects on human health are expected.
2020/2021 results
While some samples were collected as planned in 2020, other planned sampling from 2020 had to be completed in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This campaign will therefore be referred to as “2020/2021”.
The 2020/2021 IEMP sampling plan for the Point Lepreau nuclear generating site focused on nuclear contaminants. A site-specific sampling plan was developed based on the licensee’s approved environmental monitoring program and our regulatory experience with the site. We endeavor to incorporate traditional Indigenous land use, values and knowledge by engaging with Indigenous Nations and communities on the sampling plan. More information on this engagement is provided in the Indigenous Nations and Communities’ Participation section.
In 2020, we collected water, soil, sand, vegetation, and local food samples. In 2021, we collected traditional First Nation foods and plants, as well as air samples. All samples were collected in publicly accessible areas outside the Point Lepreau nuclear generating site.
The levels of radioactivity measured in samples were compared against available guidelines and our own screening levels. Our screening levels are based on conservative assumptions about the exposure that would result in a dose of 0.1 mSv/year (one-tenth of the regulatory public dose limit of 1 mSv/year). As many of the foods and plants of interest to Indigenous Nations and communities are not regularly assessed by us or by other federal or provincial bodies for radioactivity, there are no established guidelines or screening levels for these samples. In this case, the CNSC collected the same species from an area upstream and upwind that is not impacted by the operations of the Point Lepreau nuclear generating site to use as reference samples Footnote 1.
Results of the 2020/2021 IEMP sampling campaign around the Point Lepreau nuclear generating site show that the levels of radioactivity measured in samples were below available guidelines and our screening levels. For samples where no guidelines or screening levels exist, results were compared to reference1 samples. Measurements conducted by the IEMP to date have consistently found levels of radioactivity in the environment to be low, and well within the range of natural background radiation levels. As a result, no effects on human health are expected.
2017 Results
The 2017 IEMP sampling plan for the Point Lepreau nuclear generating site focused on nuclear contaminants. A site-specific sampling plan was developed based on NB Power’s approved environmental monitoring program and our regulatory experience with the site. In 2017, samples were collected in publicly accessible areas outside the site perimeter and included surface and well water, soil and sediment, air particulates, vegetation, and food such as fish and shellfish and produce from local farms outside of the site perimeter fence.
The measured radioactivity in all the samples with detectable radionuclide concentrations were below our screening levels. There was one water sample in Duck Cove that showed a slight increase in tritium over other years sampled. However, the result of 100.7 Bq/L is in the numerical range of other water samples in close proximity, as reported in NB Power’s annual compliance reports, and well below the 7,000 Bq/L guideline for tritium in drinking water. Our staff will continue to monitor this location in future IEMP sampling. The screening levels are based on conservative assumptions about the exposure that would result in a dose of 0.1 mSv/year, which represents one tenth of our public dose limit of 1 mSv/year. No health or environmental impacts are expected at these levels.
2016, 2015 and 2014 results
The 2016, 2015, and 2014 IEMP sampling plan for the site focused on nuclear contaminants. A site-specific sampling plan was developed based on NB Power’s approved environmental monitoring program, CSA Group standards and our regulatory experience with the site. Samples were collected in publicly accessible areas outside of the Point Lepreau nuclear generating site perimeter and included water, soil, sediment, air, vegetation, and food.
The measured radioactivity in all the samples with detectable radionuclide concentrations was below our screening levels. Our screening levels are based on conservative assumptions about the exposure that would result in a dose of 0.1 mSv/year, which represents one tenth of our public dose limit of 1 mSv/year. No health or environmental impacts are expected at these levels.
Indigenous Nations and communities’ participation
We have made it a priority to ensure that IEMP sampling reflects Indigenous knowledge, land use and values where possible. In addition to conducting routine IEMP sampling activities, we seek input from local Indigenous Nations and communities on IEMP sampling plans. In advance of the 2024 IEMP sampling campaign around Point Lepreau, CNSC staff notified Indigenous Nations and communities near the facilities of the planned sampling campaign, sought their input on the sampling plan, and invited them to join CNSC staff in the field for sampling activities.
Mi’gmawe’l Tplu’taqnn Incorporated
Mi’gmawe’l Tplu’taqnn Incorporated (MTI) joined CNSC staff in the field and actively participated in sampling. CNSC staff and MTI sampled water, food, vegetation and soil together. They discussed the IEMP and walked through the sampling techniques and the packaging and chain of custody procedures. MTI taught CNSC staff how to locate and harvest clams. CNSC staff are committed to working with MTI to ensure that the IEMP reflects their Indigenous knowledge, land use and values where possible.
Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick
The Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick (WNNB) joined CNSC staff to collect samples. CNSC staff explained the program to WNNB, as well as the chain of custody procedures for the collected samples. CNSC staff and WNNB sampled water, vegetation and soil together. WNNB explained how to identify sweetgrass and demonstrated the proper harvesting procedures. WNNB identified and explained the importance and use of different medicines found in the field. CNSC staff greatly appreciate the knowledge WNNB shared with them and are committed to continuing to work with WNNB to ensure that the IEMP reflects their Indigenous knowledge, land use and values where possible.
Passamaquoddy Recognition Group Inc.
The Passamaquoddy Recognition Group Inc. (PRGI) reviewed the sampling plan in early 2024 and identified species of importance for sampling, including lobster (tomalley), clams and mussels. CNSC staff included these species in the sampling plan. CNSC staff and PRGI representatives discussed the IEMP; walked through techniques for sampling air, vegetation and soil; and reviewed the packaging and chain of custody procedures. PRGI assisted CNSC staff in locating mussels; however, there were not enough for a full sample. Instead, the field team and the participants from PRGI sampled periwinkles and clams together, as well as soil, food and vegetation. Lobster meat and tomalley was sampled near the station in December at the request of PRGI. CNSC staff are committed to working with PRGI to ensure that the IEMP reflects their Indigenous knowledge, land use and values where possible.
We will continue to engage with interested Indigenous Nations and communities to ensure that IEMP sampling incorporates Indigenous knowledge, values and priorities in future sampling.
Focus on health
We review the results of public health reports and data, review international publications, and at times conduct our own health studies to provide additional confidence that the health of people living near the Point Lepreau nuclear generating site is protected.
The Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health and the New Brunswick Health Council gather information on the health of people living in New Brunswick, including in the Fundy Shore and Saint John Area health zone, where the Point Lepreau site is located. Diseases and risk factors are compared to other populations (including larger reference populations such as New Brunswick and Canada) to detect any potential health outcomes that may be of concern.
Similar to the population of New Brunswick, for the most recently reported years of 2014 to 2018, the cancers with the highest incidence rates in the Fundy Shore and Saint John Area were breast cancer (females), prostate cancer (males), lung cancer and colorectal cancer. Also similar to the population of New Brunswick, the cancer types with the highest mortality rates were lung, breast (females), colorectal, and prostate (males). Cancer incidence and mortality (for all cancer types combined, all ages, both sexes) has been increasing in Canada, New Brunswick, and the Fundy Shore and Saint John Area since the 1980s. Health data often varies by region, and the opportunity to be healthy is not the same for everyone; it is affected by personal, lifestyle, social, economic, environmental and systemic factors.
Health status data for Indigenous Peoples is not reported separately by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health or by the New Brunswick Health Council; however, the Horizon Health Network provides health care services to people living on traditional Wabanaki territory, part of which is what is now known as New Brunswick.
There are no specific studies on health effects from the presence of the Point Lepreau nuclear generating site; however, a 2017 CNSC study on the health of people living near nuclear power plants found that all cancers for all age groups were similar between populations living near nuclear power plants and the provincial reference population. In particular, there was no evidence of increases in childhood leukemia. These findings are consistent with research studies conducted around nuclear power plants in other countries (i.e., the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland and Finland). This body of evidence demonstrates that people who live near nuclear power plants, such as the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station, are as healthy as the rest of the general Canadian population.
Based on levels of radionuclides in the environment; exposures to people living in the area; the current scientific knowledge about the sources, effects and risks of ionizing radiation; and relevant local, provincial and federal health data, we have not observed and do not expect to observe any adverse health outcomes related to the presence of the Point Lepreau nuclear generating site.
For additional information, please visit the following websites:
Conclusions
Our IEMP results from 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020/2021, and 2024 are consistent with the results submitted by NB Power, supporting our assessment that the licensee’s environmental protection program is effective. The results add to the body of evidence that people and the environment in the vicinity of the Point Lepreau nuclear generating site are protected and that there are no anticipated health impacts from the operation of the facilities on the site.
Related links
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