Canadian National Report for the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management - Table of Contents

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Executive Summary

• 1.0 Introduction
• 2.0 Canada's key highlights and current priorities
• 3.0 Progress since the Second Review Meeting
  • 3.1 Continue the progress for the long-term management by:
    • 3.1 (a) Sustaining momentum for the implementation of long-term management approaches
    • 3.1 (b) Fostering relationships gained through stakeholder consultation
    • 3.1 (c) Ensuring that there are adequate human resources to implement future work
    • 3.1 (d) Increasing the regulatory efforts necessary to support future industry initiatives
    • 3.1 (e) Continuing production of supporting regulatory documentation
  • 3.2 Financial guarantees
  • 3.3 Approvals required for the Port Hope Area Initiative (PHAI) and the Deep Geologic Repository (OPG)
  • 3.4 Decommissioning old structures
  • 3.5 Progress on major projects
  • 3.6 CSA's formal waste classification scheme to be considered
  • 3.7 Amendment to regulations on exemption and clearance
  • 3.8 NWMO's recommendation for managing Canada's nuclear fuel waste
• 4.0 Conclusion

Sestion A - Introduction

• A.1 Scope of the section
• A.2 Introduction
• A.3 Nuclear substances
• A.4 Canadian philosophy and approach to safety
• A.5 Fundamental principles
• A.6 Main safety issues
• A.7 Survey of the main themes

Section B - Policies and Practices

• B.1 Scope of the section
• B.2 Introduction
• B.3 Legislative instruments
• B.4 National framework for radioactive waste management
• B.5 Regulatory policy on managing spent fuel and radioactive waste
• B.6 Regulatory Guide G-320: Assessing the Long-Term Safety of Radioactive Waste Management
• B.7 Classification of radioactive waste in Canada
  • B.7.1 High-Level Radioactive Waste (HLW)
  • B.7.2 Intermediate-Level Radioactive Waste (ILW)
  • B.7.3 Low-Level Radioactive Waste (LLW)
  • B.7.4 Uranium mine and mill waste
• B.8 Operational responsibilities for long-term management
• B.9 Management practices for spent fuel
• B.10 Management practices for low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste
• B.11 Management practices for uranium mine waste rock and mill tailings

Section C - Scope of Application

• C.1 Scope of the section
• C.2 Introduction
• C.3 Reprocessed spent fuel
• C.4 Naturally occurring radioactive materials
• C.5 Department of National Defence programs
• C.6 Discharges

Section D - Inventories and Lists

• D.1 Scope of the section
• D.2 Inventory of spent fuel in Canada
  • D.2.1 Spent fuel wet storage inventory at nuclear reactor sites
• D.3 Radioactive waste inventory
  • D.3.1 Radioactive waste management facilities
• D.4 Uranium mining and milling waste
  • D.4.1 Operational mine and mill sites
  • D.4.2 Inventory of uranium mine and mill waste at inactive tailings sites

Section E - Legislative and Regulatory Systems

• E.1 Scope of the section
• E.2 Establishment of the Canadian legislative and regulatory framework
• E.3 National safety requirements
  • E.3.1 Nuclear Safety and Control Act (NSCA)
  • E.3.2 Regulations issued under the NSCA
  • E.3.3 Regulatory documents
• E.4 Comprehensive licensing system for spent fuel and radioactive waste management activities
  • E.4.1 Licensing procedure
  • E.4.2 Process assessment of a licence application
  • E.4.3 Information and participation of the public
• E.5 A system of prohibition of the operation of spent fuel or radioactive waste without a licence
• E.6 System of institutional control, regulatory inspection and documenting and reporting
  • E.6.1 General description of compliance program
  • E.6.2 Compliance promotion
  • E.6.3 Compliance verification
  • E.6.4 Compliance enforcement
• E.7 Considerations taken into account in deciding whether or not to regulate nuclear substances as radioactive waste
• E.8 Establish regulatory body
  • E.8.1 Funding of the CNSC
  • E.8.2 Maintaining competent personnel
• E.9 Supporting the separation of roles
  • E.9.1 Separation of the CNSC and organizations that promote and utilize nuclear energy
  • E.9.2 Strategic communications
  • E.9.3 Values and ethics

Section F - Other General Safety Provisions

• F.1 Scope of the section
• F.2 Responsibility of the licence holder
• F.3 Human resources
  • F.3.1 University Network of Excellence in Nuclear Engineering
  • F.3.2 CANTEACH
  • F.3.3 OPG
  • F.3.4 Nuclear Waste Management Organization
• F.4 Financial resources
  • F.4.1 General
  • F.4.2 Historic waste
  • F.4.3 Financial guarantees
• F.5 Quality assurance
  • F.5.1 QA program assessment
• F.6 Operational radiation protection
  • F.6.1 Requirements for doses so they are consistent with ALARA
  • F.6.2 Derived release limits
  • F.6.3 Action levels
  • F.6.4 Dosimetry
  • F.6.5 Preventing unplanned releases
  • F.6.6 Protection of the environment
  • F.6.7 Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission activities
• F.7 Nuclear emergency management
  • F.7.1 The CNSC's assessment of licensees' emergency management programs
  • F.7.2 Types of nuclear emergencies
  • F.7.3 Federal government responsibilities
  • F.7.4 International arrangements
• F.8 Decommissioning
  • F.8.1 Qualified staff and adequate financial resources
  • F.8.2 Operational radiation protection, discharges, unplanned and uncontrolled Releases
  • F.8.3 Emergency preparedness
  • F.8.4 Records

Section G - Safety of Spent Fuel Management

• G.1 Scope of the section
• G.2 Nuclear power plants
• G.3 CANDU fuel
• G.4 Research reactors
  • G.4.1 Nuclear fuel waste from research reactors
• G.5 Medical isotope production fuel
• G.6 Storage of spent fuel
• G.7 Spent fuel management methods
  • G.7.1 Requirements for spent fuel storage
• G.8 Safety of spent fuel and radioactive waste Management
  • G.8.1 General safety requirements
  • G.8.2 Canadian licensing process
  • G.8.3 Protection and safety fundamentals
  • G.8.4 Generic performance requirements
  • G.8.5 Generic design and operational principles
  • G.8.6 Performance criteria
  • G.8.7 Safety requirements
    • G.8.7.1 Nuclear criticality safety
    • G.8.7.2 Facility design
    • G.8.7.3 Physical security and safeguards
    • G.8.7.4 Industrial safety
• G.9 Protection of existing facilities
• G.10 Protection in the siting of proposed facilities
  • G.10.1 Public information programs
  • G.10.2 International arrangements with neighbouring countries that could be affected
• G.11 Design, construction and assessment of safety of facilities
• G.12 Operation of facilities
• G.13 Monitoring of spent fuel dry storage Facilities
  • G.13.1 Gamma radiation monitoring experience
  • G.13.2 Leak tightness verification experience
  • G.13.3 Environmental monitoring experience
  • G.13.4 Effluent Monitoring Experience
    • G.13.4.1 AECL
    • G.13.4.2 OPG
• G.14 Disposal of spent fuel
• G.15 New facilities
• G.16 Proposed facilities
• G.17 Long-term management of spent fuel

Section H - Safety of Radioactive Waste Management

• H.1 Scope of the section
• H.2 Radioactive waste in Canada
• H.3 Characteristics of radioactive waste in Canada
  • H.3.1 Fuel manufacturing waste
  • H.3.2 Electricity generation waste
  • H.3.3 Historic waste
  • H.3.4 Radioisotope production and use waste
  • H.3.5 Uranium mining and milling waste
  • H.3.6 Radioactive waste at research reactors
• H.4 Waste minimization
• H.5 General safety requirements
  • H.5.1 Protection and safety fundamentals
  • H.5.2 Safety requirements
• H.6 Protection of existing facilities
  • H.6.1 Past practices
• H.7 Protection in the siting of proposed facilities
  • H.7.1 Public information programs
    • H.7.1.1 Public information program for low- and intermediate-level nuclear waste storage
    • H.7.1.2 Public information for a new uranium mine or mill
• H.8 Design, construction and assessment of facilities
• H.9 Operation of facilities
  • H.9.1 Criticality safety
• H.10 Institutional measures after closure
  • H.10.1 Introduction
  • H.10.2 Examples of the use of institutional controls for proposed spent fuel and radioactive waste repositories
  • H.10.3 Example of the development of institutional control for decommissioned uranium mines and mills in Saskatchewan
• H.11 Monitoring programs

Section I - Transboundary Movement

• I.1 Scope of the section
• I.2 Introduction
• I.3 Controlled substances
• I.4 Exporting state
• I.5 State of destination
• I.6 Destination south of latitude 60 degrees

Section J - Disused Sealed Sources

• J.1 Scope of the section
• J.2 Introduction
• J.3 Regulatory framework
• J.4 Sealed sources used in Canada
  • J.4.1 Disposal of sealed sources in Canada
  • J.4.2 The National Sealed Source Registry and Sealed Source Tracking System
    • J.4.2.1 Import and export of radioactive sealed sources
  • J.4.3 Retention of records
  • J.4.4 Safety of sealed sources
• J.5 Sealed sources in the international community

Section K - Planned Activities

• K.1 Scope of the section
• K.2 Introduction
• K.3 Regulatory framework initiatives
• K.4 Long-term management of spent fuel
  • K.4.1 Assessment of options for long-term management of spent fuel (2002-2005)
  • K.4.2 Adaptive Phased Management: NWMO proposal to government (2005)
  • K.4.3 Government decision (June 2007)
  • K.4.4 Implementing the long-term management pPlan (2007 - 2008 activities)
• K.5 Long-term management of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste
  • K.5.1 Proposed low- and intermediate-level waste deep geologic repository at OPG's Western Management Facility
  • K.5.2 Nuclear Legacy Liabilities Program (NLLP)
    • K.5.2.1 Long-term strategy to decommission Chalk River Laboratories
    • K.5.2.2 AECL Liquid Waste Transfer and Storage (LWTS) Project
  • K.5.3 Management of historic waste
    • K.5.3.1 Port Hope Area Initiative
    • K.5.3.2 Other historic waste initiatives
• K.6 Other contaminated lands
  • K.6.1 Inactive uranium mine and mill tailings management areas
  • K.6.2 Contaminated land resulting from past practices in the uranium and radium industries under institutional control
    • K.6.2.1 Consolidated cells
    • K.6.2.2 Port Hope contaminated sites
    • K.6.2.3 Northern transportation route
    • K.6.2.4 Toronto area contaminated sites
    • K.6.2.5 Deloro Mine Site
  • K.6.3 Landfills
  • K.6.4 Devices containing radium luminous compounds
  • K.6.5 Other CLEAN program activities

Annex 1 - Federal Structure

• 1.0 Introduction
• 1.1 Natural Resources Canada
• 1.2 Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
• 1.3 Atomic Energy of Canada Limited
• 1.4 Low-level Radioactive Waste Management Office
• 1.5 Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
• 1.6 Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
• 1.7 Health Canada
• 1.8 Environment Canada
• 1.9 Transport Canada

Annex 2 - Canadian Legislative System and Institutional Framework

• 2.0 Introduction
• 2.1 Nuclear Safety and Control Act
• 2.2 Nuclear Energy Act
• 2.3 Nuclear Fuel Waste Act
• 2.4 Nuclear Liability Act
• 2.5 Canadian Environmental Assessment

Annex 3 - Canadian Nuclear Safety Commision and the Regulatory Process

• 3.0 Introduction
• 3.1 Nuclear Safety and Control Act (NSCA)
• 3.2 Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (the CNSC)
• 3.3 The CNSC in the government structure
• 3.4 Organizational structure
• 3.5 Regulatory philosophy and activities
• 3.6 Regulatory framework
  • 3.6.1 The CNSC's regulatory documents
• 3.7 Licensing process
• 3.8 Licensing hearings
• 3.9 Compliance
  • 3.9.1 The CNSC Compliance Program
• 3.10 Cooperative undertakings
• 3.11 The CNSC Outreach Program
  • 3.11.1.1 Framework for the CNSC's Outreach Program
  • 3.11.1.2 Stakeholders
  • 3.11.1.3 Definition of outreach

Annex 4 - Spent Fuel Storage Technologies in Canada

• 4.1 Wet storage technology
  • 4.1.1 Bay liners
  • 4.1.2 Storage in wet bays
  • 4.1.3 Water pool chemical control
• 4.2 Experiences with wet storage
• 4.3 Dry storage technology
  • 4.3.1 AECL Concrete Canisters
  • 4.3.2 AECL MACSTOR^TM module
  • 4.3.3 Ontario Power Generation dry storage containers
• 4.4 Experiences with dry storage
• 4.5 Spent fuel storage facilities
  • 4.5.1 Pickering Nuclear Generating Station
  • 4.5.2 Pickering Waste Management Facility - Used Fuel Dry Storage
  • 4.5.3 Bruce Nuclear Generating Stations A and B
  • 4.5.4 Western Waste Management Facility - Used Fuel Dry Storage
  • 4.5.5 Darlington Nuclear Generating Station
  • 4.5.6 Darlington Waste Management Facility
  • 4.5.7 Gentilly-2 Nuclear Generating Station
  • 4.5.8 Hydro-Québec Used Fuel Dry Storage Facility
  • 4.5.9 Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station
  • 4.5.10 Point Lepreau Used Fuel Dry Storage Facility
  • 4.5.11 Douglas Point Used Fuel Dry Storage Facility
  • 4.5.12 Gentilly-1 Used Fuel Dry Storage Facility
  • 4.5.13 Chalk River Laboratories - Area G - Used Fuel Dry Storage Area
  • 4.5.14 Whiteshell Laboratories (WL) Used Fuel Storage Facility
  • 4.5.15 NRU Research Reactor
  • 4.5.16 McMaster Nuclear Reactor

Annex 5 - Radioactive Waste Management Facilities

• 5.1 Radioactive Waste Management Methods
  • 5.1.1 Pickering Waste Management Facility - Re-tube Components Storage
  • 5.1.2 Western Waste Management Facility - Low- and Intermediate-Level Waste Storage
  • 5.1.3 Radioactive Waste Operations Site 1
  • 5.1.4 Hydro-Québec Waste Management Facility
  • 5.1.5 Point Lepreau Waste Management Facility
  • 5.1.6 Radioactive waste management at decommissioned reactor sites
    • 5.1.6.1 Douglas Point Waste Management Facility
    • 5.1.6.2 Gentilly-1 Waste Management Facility
    • 5.1.6.3 Nuclear Power Demonstration Waste Management Facility
  • 5.1.7 AECL Nuclear Research and Test Establishment Facilities
    • 5.1.7.1 Chalk River Laboratories
      • 5.1.7.1.1 Waste Management Area A
      • 5.1.7.1.2 Waste Management Area B
      • 5.1.7.1.3 Waste Management Area C
      • 5.1.7.1.4 Waste Management Area D
      • 5.1.7.1.5 Waste Management Area E
      • 5.1.7.1.6 Waste Management Area F
      • 5.1.7.1.7 Waste Management Area G
      • 5.1.7.1.8 Waste Management Area H
      • 5.1.7.1.9 Liquid Dispersal Area
      • 5.1.7.1.10 Acid, Chemical and Solvent Pits
      • 5.1.7.1.11 Waste Tank Farm
      • 5.1.7.1.12 Ammonium Nitrate Decomposition Plant
      • 5.1.7.1.13 Thorium Nitrate Pit
      • 5.1.7.1.14 Glass Block Experiments
      • 5.1.7.1.15 Bulk Storage Area
      • 5.1.7.1.16 CRL Waste Treatment Centre (WTC)
    • 5.1.7.2 Whiteshell Laboratories
  • 5.1.8 Monserco Limited
  • 5.1.9 Cameco Blind River Refinery/Port Hope Conversion Facility/Port Hope Fuel Fabrication Facility Waste and By-Product Management

Annex 6 - Uranuim Mine and Mill Facilities

• 6.1 Background
• 6.2 Province of Saskatchewan
• 6.3 Operational tailings and waste rock management strategy
  • 6.3.1 Overview
  • 6.3.2 Tailings management strategy
  • 6.3.3 Waste rock management strategy
  • 6.3.4 Wastewater treatment and effluent discharge
• 6.4 Waste Management Facilities
  • 6.4.1 Key Lake
    • 6.4.1.1 Tailings management
    • 6.4.1.2 Waste rock management
    • 6.4.1.3 Contaminated industrial wastes
  • 6.4.2 Rabbit Lake
    • 6.4.2.1 Tailings management
    • 6.4.2.2 Waste rock management
    • 6.4.2.3 Contaminated industrial wastes
  • 6.4.3 McClean Lake
    • 6.4.3.1 Tailings management
    • 6.4.3.2 Waste rock management
    • 6.4.3.3 Contaminated industrial wastes
  • 6.4.4 Cigar Lake
    • 6.4.4.1 Tailings management
    • 6.4.4.2 Waste rock management
    • 6.4.4.3 Contaminated industrial wastes
  • 6.4.5 McArthur River
    • 6.4.5.1 Tailings management
    • 6.4.5.2 Waste rock management
    • 6.4.5.3 Contaminated industrial wastes

Annex 7 - Decommisioning Activities

• 7.1 AECL Whiteshell Laboratories
  • 7.1.1 Underground Research Laboratory (URL)
• 7.2 AECL Gentilly-1 Waste Management Facility
• 7.3 AECL Douglas Point Waste Management Facility
• 7.4 AECL Nuclear Power Demonstration Waste Management Facility
• 7.5 AECL Chalk River Laboratories decommissioning activities
  • 7.5.1 Pool Test Reactor
  • 7.5.2 Plutonium Recovery Laboratory
  • 7.5.3 Plutonium Tower
  • 7.5.4 Waste Water Evaporator
  • 7.5.5 National Research Experimental (NRX) Reactor
• 7.6 Cluff Lake Project
  • 7.6.1 Mill area
    • 7.6.1.1 Mining area
  • 7.6.2 Tailings Management Area
  • 7.7 Bruce Heavy Water Plant

Annex 8 - Inactive Uranium Mines and Mills Tailings Management Areas

• 8.1 Introduction
  • 8.1.1 Saskatchewan
    • 8.1.1.1 Beaverlodge
    • 8.1.1.2 Gunnar and Lorado
  • 8.1.2 Northwest Territories
    • 8.1.2.1 Port Radium
    • 8.1.2.2 Rayrock
  • 8.1.3 Ontario
    • 8.1.3.1 Elliot Lake area
    • 8.1.3.2 Agnew Lake
    • 8.1.3.3 Bancroft area
      • 8.1.3.3.1 Dyno Idle Mine Site
      • 8.1.3.3.2 Madawaska Mine Site
      • 8.1.3.3.3 Bicroft Tailings Storage Facility
• 8.2 Contaminated lands
  • 8.2.1 Contaminated land under institutional control
    • 8.2.1.1 Consolidated cells
    • 8.2.1.2 Fort McMurray
    • 8.2.1.3 Fort Smith
    • 8.2.1.4 Passmore Storage Cell
    • 8.2.1.5 Tulita
    • 8.2.1.6 Peterborough
    • 8.2.1.7 Lakeshore Road
    • 8.2.1.8 Deloro
  • 8.2.2 Historic contaminated lands
    • 8.2.2.1 Fort Fitzgerald
    • 8.2.2.2 Sahtu Region
    • 8.2.2.3 Toronto, Ontario
    • 8.2.2.4 Port Hope Area Initiative for the long-term management of historic low-level radioactive wastes
    • 8.2.2.5 Port Hope contaminated sites

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