WHITESHELL

WHITESHELL

WHITESHELL

WHITESHELL

SPRING 2020 CONTACTWHITESHELL A PUBLICATION OF CANADIAN NUCLEAR LABORATORIES

WHITESHELL

WHITESHELL

CHALK RIVER WHITESHELL PORT HOPE WHITESHELL

AN UPDATE ON THE WHITESHELL PROJECT KEEPING WHITESHELL SAFE John Gilbert, Site Head of the Whiteshell Closure Project

You could say that employees at Whiteshell Laboratories work was halted. Everybody who could, was working had a distinct advantage when they were faced with the from home. But Whiteshell Laboratories was far from COVID-19 pandemic. After all, working on a nuclear site, empty. Up to 40 people a day were still coming into they are used to dealing with an invisible risk and are work to perform necessary tasks to keep the site safe, familiar with safety procedures that translate directly to to meet licensing requirements, and to provide general a COVID-19 world. maintenance.

On March 18, the call went out to go to Minimum Safe Those coming on site were trained in how to ensure Staffing, in line with actions recommended by the -Gov safe work practices which were similar to the - protec ernment of and public health authorities to re- tions used in their everyday work on a nuclear site like duce the risk to workers and the community. Two days protective clothing – but with a few differences such as later the site was safely shut down, all decommissioning wiping down surfaces and keeping two metres apart,

WHITESHELL ADOPTS 4x10 SCHEDULE New work schedule has been 'overwhelmingly positive' for employees

The work-from-home protocol for COVID-19 is not the only ter efficiency and increased field production by allowing workplace innovation that Whiteshell employees have ex- workers to increase their time between donning and doff- perienced. About a dozen employees working on the Bun- ing personal protective equipment." Working on a nuclear ker 5 Waste Retrieval Project spent the last few months site means spending a lot of time carefully putting on and on a pilot project where they were getting to work earli- taking off protective clothing and equipment and workers er, leaving later, and thoroughly enjoying the experience. must meticulously prepare equipment and double-check That’s because they had Fridays off. plans before entering potentially contaminated sites. Pro- viding workers with longer “jump” times in their work It’s called 4x10s (four tens) – where employees work ten- zones between breaks reduces that impact of time spent hour days from Monday to Thursday and then enjoy a long, getting into PPE and preparing to enter the work zones three-day weekend. It’s an early start. They were getting over the week, Gilbert says, and that “…adds extra hours of on site just before 6 in the morning, and not leaving until tool time, actual work.” 4:30 in the afternoon. But many of those who took part in the trial said they loved it. Some staff had worried about working longer hours, and others were concerned about having to adjust sleep pat- John Gilbert, General Manager of the Whiteshell Closure terns. But after a few weeks, an employee survey found Project, stated “moving to a 4x10 schedule provides bet- that the workers on the pilot project easily adjusted to the and that physical distancing was made easier by having support the workers. There will be no rush back to work fewer people on site. Those able to work from home when we resume. The pandemic has had an impact on continued their jobs planning, writing documents, and our schedules, but we do not expect anyone to make up performing mission critical tasks. 4, 6 or 8 weeks of lost time.”

John Gilbert, the General Manager of the Whiteshell Some of the changes at Whiteshell necessitated by COV- Closure Project, indicated it has been an exercise in flex- ID-19 have been good ones. Some workers will continue ibility, “We’re all having to rethink how we conduct work when we’re out of our comfort zones and traditional of- fice settings. Some staff have been fortunate tohave I have been impressed with my home offices that they have moved in to, others are team’s ability to push through the sharing dining room tables with spouses or juggling work challenge, continue to produce with home-schooling their children.” " solid work, give back to the com- munity, and look out for their peers CNL staff came on site to perform essential tasks such in these challenging times. Over- as conducting environmental monitoring tests, repairing all, the support from the team has the hot water system, and, yes, even taking out the gar- been fantastic! bage. Whiteshell’s Emergency Services Operations con- - John Gilbert tinued to monitor the site every day, around the clock.

The return-to-work won’t happen all at once, says Gil- bert, “We are planning a phased return based upon some to work remotely. As well, site access screening, social assumptions of what the new normal may look like. We distancing, and carpooling restrictions designed to keep don’t anticipate everyone returning to work on the same workers safe could be part of CNL’s workplace for some day and will only do so when our workspaces are safe to time to come.

change and were feeling energized by the longer weekends and coming back to work on Mondays feeling “re-charged.” As the trial moved to a close, the numbers were positive: the employees had managed to increase productivity by 25%. And, the benefits mentioned by the workers them- selves included less time on the road and the ability to ac- complish much more during the day. Oh, and then there’s that three-day weekend!

There were two less than positive observations: a lack of daycare options for employees starting work that early and driving in the dark. Gilbert says, “Both of these issues will be managed on a case-by-case basis. But overall, the 4-10s has been a morale booster and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive."

The pilot project was just winding down when the work- from-home protocol went into place, but the results were so positive, that even in lock-down, the entire site has moved to 4x10s as of March 30. This makes the work of the Bunker 5 Waste Retrieval team even more efficient, as -ev eryone at Whiteshell is now working on the same schedule. UPDATE ON THE WHITESHELL PROJECT CNL dives into planning while COVID-19 lockdown delays operations

The implementation of COVID-19 response measures All of the materials recovered from the structures have stopped the clock for more than 65 days on the schedule for been carefully disposed of with an emphasis on recycling demolition work on the Whiteshell site, however, time was when possible. The numbers: spent during the COVID-19 lockdown on planning, planning, and more planning! Before that, CNL’s Whiteshell Closure • The demolition of these three facilities represents Project Team made good progress even during the winter 1,347 square metres of floor space removed from months, on key activities. the Whiteshell campus site. • Since 2016, CNL has demolished a total of 22 build- The demolition of three facilities, led by the Building and ings representing a total of 7,541 square metres of Lands Decommissioning team, was completed in the first floor space. three months of 2020. They are: the Hydrogen Contain- ment Test Facility and Annex, the Waste Clearance Facil- For structures with radiation contamination, the demoli- ity, and the WR-1 Organic Monitoring Building. tion work is carried out by the Nuclear Facilities Decom-

BEFORE AFTER missioning and Demolition Team. Planning is extensive Treatment Centre, the Radioisotope Research and De- and involves assessing a facility or structure, describing, velopment Complex, the Accelerator Building, and the or characterizing its radioactive content, and then devel- Medical Biophysics Building. oping a detailed plan to decontaminate where possible, dismantle, and then safely store the pieces and debris All the plans must be approved by the Canadian Nuclear until the Government of Canada has approved a method Safety Commission – Canada’s nuclear regulator – before for safe disposal. Team members must examine and as- any actual work can get underway. sess every crawl space, drain, fume hood and ventilation system. Even the surrounding land is included.

In some cases, the facility poses complex challenges, as workers could be dealing with more than radioactive contamination. For example, the Medical Biophysics Building required a Hazmat Remediation Plan for type 3 asbestos, lead, and PCBs as well. And the team is still trying to devise a plan to undertake type 3 asbestos re- mediation of mastic tar on concrete – a sticky puzzle that requires the expertise of CNL’s Industrial Hygienist.

In the past few months, the team has made progress on plans for decommissioning the Active Liquid Waste

WASTE MANAGEMENT AT WHITESHELL How CNL manages the waste that is produced through decommissioning

When the Building and Lands Decommissioning Team and Project in its 20-year waste plan and is now discussing the the Nuclear Facilities Decommissioning and Demolition possibility of accepting Whiteshell’s non-radiological, non- Team undertake a demolition project, the product is waste, hazardous demolition waste. and there is lots of it. The teams carefully separate materi- als according to contamination, and whether or not it can In January 2020, the town met with Whiteshell’s Waste be recycled. Management team to discuss a contract for handling office waste, and it’s hoped a contract will be in place in the com- Waste that has low-level and intermediate-level radioac- ing months. tive contamination is packaged and then shipped to in for temporary storage until a permanent facility has been approved and built. Since May 2017, 204 shipments, for a total volume of 4,465 cubic me- tres, of low-level waste and 5 shipments, with a volume of 31 cubic metres, of intermediate level waste has been safe- ly transported to the Chalk River facility. These shipments have been conducted safely with no incidents or reports of regulatory breaches.

Clean waste – waste that is free from radioactivity – has either been recycled or disposed of in a landfill site at Whiteshell. In the future, a crucial partner in the manage- ment of this waste will be the Local Government District of . The town has considered the Whiteshell Closure TRAILER PARK BOYS (AND GIRLS, TOO) Trailer park begins to takes shape, serving as new office at Whiteshell For the Whiteshell Closure Project, moving into trailers is a step forward. A trailer park, or modular office complex, is taking shape to become brand new office space on the Whiteshell site. Eighteen trailers are being assembled to create a complex measuring 60 by 215 feet, designed as workspace for up to 100 people. This number of employees could be adjusted depending on the new COVID-19 space requirements. The move to trailers will allow employees to move out of four buildings that are slated for demolition.

Matt King, Whiteshell’s Senior Project Manager – Engineer- ing, says the move will enhance productivity in several ways, “The main purpose of the trailer complex is to bring was slowed, but with COVID-19 safety protocols in place, the workers closer together to foster an atmosphere that al- work began in mid-May and will be completed by mid-July. lows teamwork to flourish. At the same time, emptying the buildings completely allows demolition activities to proceed The establishment of the complex demonstrates progress freely – and perhaps even ahead of schedule”. on the Whiteshell Closure project – temporary trailers re- placing outdated buildings slated for demolition, clearing The work to assemble the trailers and create the complex the way for a new purpose for this land.

GIVING BACK TO OUR COMMUNITIES CNL supports healthcare workers and others through donation program As part of a company-wide effort, Whiteshell has been sup- • heating equipment such as boilers and breakers were porting COVID-19 health care workers across . donated to the W.B. Lewis Centre in Pinawa CNL has provided personal protective equipment and cloth- • black-light fluorescent bulbs are now being used in the ing (PPE&C) to several groups including the Interlake East- Whitemouth School, and man Regional Health Authority and local businesses which • tables and chairs were given to Sagkeeng First Nation were supplied with hand sanitizer, gloves, and face shields. SPONSORSHIPS Whiteshell workers have also generously supported the CNL is proud to offer financial support to local community Two Rivers Seniors Resource with their grocery deliveries groups as well. In the past few months, CNL has helped the in Pinawa, stocked the Lac Du Bonnet Food Bank and Emer- following organizations with specific projects: gency Operations Centre with cleaning supplies, and made • The Whiteshell Winter Arts Festival in Pinawa financial donations to the Lac Du Bonnet and Beausejour & • The Events Guide for Lac Du Bonnet’s Lions Club Area Food Banks. • The Tyndall Village Splash Park • The Lac Du Bonnet & Pinawa Curling Clubs INVENTORY DONATIONS • The Lac du Bonnet Chamber of Commerce community Whiteshell’s Surplus Inventory Donation Program continued map to share equipment and material no longer needed by CNL with local charitable, non-profit, municipalities, and First Whiteshell is a proud member of the local community. If Nations communities. Under the program, groups apply you seek support for an event or project that will benefit for materials such as equipment, furniture, machinery, and the community, or if you are a local charitable, non-profit, building supplies. In the past few months, CNL is happy to First Nation community, or municipal government organiza- see the following items being re-used by community groups: tion and want to take part in the Surplus Inventory Donation • flammable storage cabinets went to the Sun Gro Cen- Program, please contact Alanna Wilcox, Whiteshell Commu- tre in Beausejour, nications at [email protected] or 204-340-6344. ENGAGING OUR NEIGHBOURS TO LEARN MORE Indigenous neighbours host CNL, AECL & CNSC to discuss land use study

In December 2019, Whiteshell’s Indigenous neighbours host- closed with reflections and comments from each participant. ed CNL, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, and the Canadian CNL met with other groups over the past months, to share Nuclear Safety Commission to discuss api migizik pii pa giiot updated information about activities at Whiteshell and to lis- - When Eagles Call, the traditional Knowledge and Land Use ten to their concerns about the decommissioning work that is Study for the WR-1 nuclear reactor decommissioning project. underway and planned:

The study provides a window into traditional practices, • Regular meetings with the Manitoba Metis Federation worldviews, experiences, and land and water uses of the • Workshops with the Manitoba Metis Federation and Black River First Nation, the Brokenhead Ojibway Nation, and Sagkeeng First Nation the Hollow Water First Nation. The document will be consid- • An Economic Regeneration Partnership Meeting with lo- ered as part of the environmental assessment review process cal municipalities for the WR-1 In-Situ Disposal Project. The study reflected the • A Public Engagement Breakfast Session on WR-1 reactor communities’ concerns about the physical, cultural, psycho- Alternatives Assessment logical, and spiritual impacts on the people, the land, and the • A Public Tour of the WR-1 reactor and Hot Cells Facility water as a result of the long-term presence of radioactive • A presentation on the WR-1 reactor to the Association of wastes in their territories. Engineers & Geoscientists of MB, Filipino sector • A meeting with Sagkeeng First Nation to hear feedback During the meeting, the study was reviewed and participants on the Environmental Impact Satement and to discuss discussed recommendations and potential next steps, and Environmental Assessment alternatives

CNL REPRESENTATIVES CONCLUDED THE MEETING WITH THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS: We understand some people are fearful and have questions and that is our first priority in all aspects of our work. We believe that concerns. We need to answer those so that we can all be con- managing the legacy liabilities, storing the waste safely, reducing tent that we are doing the right thing to protect the people, the uncertainty, and increasing control will minimize the impact of environment, and the earth. Meaningful engagement leading to our historical operations on people, the environment, the earth, mutual understanding is key to the safe closure of the Whiteshell and the River. The protection of the Winnipeg River site. CNL recognizes the importance of engaging Indigenous com- and the surrounding environment is important to CNL and its em- munities and has a strong desire to continue to build relation- ployees. We share this important value. We are working to learn ships with both First Nations and Métis. Through this we have more - including the importance of ceremony and acknowledging the ability to learn from one another to ensure that our activities the impact of past actions. Thank you for sharing your wisdom continue in a way that protects people and the environment, as with us. Meegwetch. WR-1 IN-SITU DISPOSAL PROJECT UPDATE CNL submits second draft of EIS for WR-1 reactor closure project to CNSC

CNL hit a significant milestone on March 27, 2020, when it submitted the second draft of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the closure of the WR-1 reactor to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission for regulatory re- view. In the past two years, the project team has conducted further research and provided more characterization and technical work to address 208 comments and requests for information received on the first draft from Indigenous com- munities, the public, and federal and provincial regulators.

Over the next few months, the WR-1 team will be reaching out to those same groups to discuss how their input was incorporated into this latest version of the document.

CNL expects to receive further comments during the com- final structure would withstand an earthquake by in- pleteness check and the federal/provincial review. It is an- cluding more historical data on the WR-1 building, and ticipated that a final version of the EIS will be submitted to the historical codes under which the structure was seis- the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission in late 2020. mically qualified. • Alternative Means / Options – CNL has provided more Here is an overview of some of the issues that the WR-1 Clo- detail on why in-situ decommissioning is the preferred sure Project incorporated into the second draft of the EIS: choice for WR-1 by clarifying the differences between the alternatives that were considered and explaining • Monitoring of the Winnipeg River – Draft monitoring the risks relative to each. This clarification will show plans have been developed to explain how the ground- that in-situ decommissioning is the preferred overall water, surface water, and effluent will be monitored option and is, in fact, low risk to the public and the en- over all phases of the WR-1 Closure project. vironment. • Grout and Concrete – The latest research on how con- • Design and Engineering Details – Since CNL submitted crete and grout behave over time has been incorporat- the first draft of the EIS, the design process has pro- ed into performance modelling of the facility. The grout gressed, and a more detailed design has now been sub- has been successfully tested using locally-sourced raw mitted to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission for materials. review along with the updated EIS. The final detailed • Radiological Inventory – Extensive physical charac- design will equal or surpass the performance of the terization has resulted in a highly detailed radiological conceptual design that was assessed in the original EIS. assessment of the WR-1 facility and how the levels of radioactivity are predicted to reduce over time. The team looks forward to further engagements with the • Assessing the Impact of Possible Earthquakes – CNL public and local Indigenous communities planned for the has provided more detail to better understand how the Fall of 2020. We hope to see you there.

CNL Corporate Communications 1-800-364-6989 286 Plant Road, Stn 700 A [email protected] Chalk River ON, K0J 1J0 www.cnl.ca

CONTACT is a publication of CNL's Whiteshell Laboratories Communications team.