Canadian National Report for the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management Second Report October 2005 Canadian National Report for the Joint Convention for the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management — Second Report ©Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada 2005 Catalogue number CC172-23/2005E-PDF ISBN 0-662-41873-5 Published by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission CNSC Catalogue number INFO-0755E Extracts from this document may be reproduced for individual use without permission provided the source is fully acknowledged. However, reproduction in whole or in part for purposes of resale or redistribution requires prior written permission from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission 280 Slater Street P.O. Box 1046, Station B Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5S9 CANADA Tel.: (613) 995-5894 or 1-800-668-5284 Facsimile: (613) 995-5086 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.nuclearsafety.gc.ca Canadian National Report for the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management Second Report October 2005 Canadian National Report for the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management Second Report In conformance with Article 32(1) of the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management ii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.0 Introduction This is Canada’s Second National Report and it demonstrates how Canada continues to meet its obligations under the terms of the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management. The main aspect addressed in this report is the progress on initiatives for the long-term management of spent fuel and radioactive waste in Canada. This report also includes information on Canada’s systematic monitoring programs and their implementation and addresses specific topics raised at the First Review Meeting. Canada’s Second National Report is the joint effort of government, industry and the Canadian regulator. 2.0 Key features of the Second National Report Canada’s Second National Report includes two significant changes from the First Report: comparison of Canada’s programs with international standards, and; the status of decommissioning activities in Canada. In addition, it contains revisions and updates to Canada’s First National Report (which can be viewed on www.nuclearsafety.gc.ca) and includes comments and issues raised at the First Review Meeting. International Standards In this, the Second National Report, Canada demonstrates that its policies, programs, standards and legislative and regulatory structures meet and in some instances exceed the requirements of applicable IAEA standards. In accordance with the Summary report of the First Review Meeting of the Contracting Parties, a Contracting Party may refer to the IAEA Standards to demonstrate implementation of the obligations set forth in the Joint Convention and this is what Canada has done. Decommissioning Activities Canada has several facilities under active decommissioning and preliminary decommissioning plans (PDP) are on file with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) for all other major and high risk facilities. In conjunction with the PDP, each licensee has in place a financial guarantee, based on the PDP, ensuring that sufficient funds will be available to carry out any required decommissioning. iii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3.0 Progress since First Review Meeting Regulatory Document Improvement Program Since the First Review Meeting in 2003, the CNSC has continued its document improvement initiative which has produced additional regulatory policies, standards and guides. Regulatory Policy P-290 Managing Radioactive Waste was issued in July 2004. Regulatory Policy P-299 Regulatory Fundamentals, which promotes consistency and clarity in the way the CNSC achieves its regulatory objectives, was issued in April 2005. And, Draft Regulatory Guide G-320 Assessing the Long-Term Safety of Radioactive Waste Management, which was issued for public comment in April 2005, is expected to be issued by the time of the Joint Convention review meeting in May 2006. Long-term Management of Spent Fuel Canada is committed to ensuring a responsible approach for the long-term management of nuclear fuel waste. In 2002, the Canadian Parliament enacted the Nuclear Fuel Waste Act. Under this legislation, the nuclear industry was required to form a not-for-profit organization, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO), which would develop options for a general approach for the long-term management of nuclear fuel waste and submit a recommendation to the federal Minister of Natural Resources by November15, 2005. In the spring of 2005, the NWMO released the draft study entitled “Choosing a Way Forward” for public comment, in which it describes four options and presents its preferred option for a general approach for the long-term management of nuclear fuel waste. After receipt of the study, a ministerial recommendation will be developed and presented to the Governor in Council. Under government oversight, the NWMO will implement the approved general approach, including starting the site selection process. Long-term Management of Low-and Intermediate-Level Radioactive Waste Low-and intermediate-level waste is presently well handled and stored in regulated facilities, well suited to short to mid-term time frames. Integrated approaches to storage or disposal are being discussed by licensees and industry. The following are some key initiatives: In 2004, Ontario Power Generation (OPG), by far the largest producer of Low-and Intermediate- Level Radioactive Waste (LIRW), announced its intention to develop a long-term approach for its LIRW waste to ensure its isolation from the environment in the long-term, without burdening future generations with its caretaking. Work is proceeding on this undertaking which, if successful, would result in a deep geological repository being built to accommodate the waste. At the time of this report, OPG has signed an agreement with the host municipality and has commenced preliminary engineering work. Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) initiated in 2004 the Liquid Waste Transfer Storage Project. This project will provide long-term storage for approximately 280 m3 of intermediate- and high-level liquid waste currently in storage at the Chalk River Laboratories site. AECL’s iv EXECUTIVE SUMMARY long-term strategy is to convert the liquid into a solid form suitable for long-term management in a storage or disposal facility. Port Hope Area Initiative The Port Hope Area Initiative (PHAI) is a project, initiated by the Government of Canada and local municipalities to address the long-term management of roughly 1.5 million cubic metres of radioactive waste contamination in the Port Hope area. As reported in the First National Report, the Initiative began on March 29, 2001. The PHAI consists of two waste management projects; the Port Hope Project and the Port Granby Project. At this time, the environmental assessment and regulatory review phase of the Initiative is well advanced. At the time of writing this report, an Environmental Assessment Study Report (EASR) has been submitted to federal decision- makers on the Port Hope Project. The EASR on Port Granby is expected prior to the end of 2005. With the submission of the EASR the federal environmental review of the projects has begun and should be completed, for both projects, by the end of 2006. Licensing decisions are expected in 2007. Conclusion Spent fuel and radioactive waste in Canada are currently managed in storage facilities that are safe, secure and environmentally sound. Canada recognizes that enhanced long-term management approaches for its spent fuel and radioactive waste will be required. Canada’s Second National Report identifies several key initiatives demonstrating Canada’s commitment to identifying long-term management approaches. Canada’s long-term management approaches will ensure that spent fuel and radioactive waste are stored or disposed in a manner that does not pose undue burden on future generations. v TTThhhiiissspppaaagggeeeiiinnnttteeennntttiiiooonnnaaallllllyyyllleeeffftttbbblllaaannnkkk TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION A ................................................................................................................................1 A. INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................................................1 A.1 Scope of the Section.......................................................................................................................................1 A.2 Introduction...................................................................................................................................................1 A.3 Nuclear Substances .......................................................................................................................................2 A.4 Canadian Philosophy and Approach to Safety...........................................................................................3 A.5 Fundamental Principles................................................................................................................................3 A.6 Main Safety