NB Power Granted Five-Year Operating Licence for Point Lepreau Security

SUMMER 2017

FromTHE Point STATION NEWS FOR THE COMMUNITY

NB Power granted five-year operating licence for Point Lepreau PLNGS is safe and fully qualified to continue operation

Security exercise tests emergency response capabilities NB POWER GRANTED FIVE-YEAR OPERATING LICENCE FOR POINT LEPREAU PLNGS IS SAFE AND FULLY QUALIFIED TO CONTINUE OPERATION

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) and Control Act and associated regulations. They has awarded a five-year Power Reactor Operating also confirmed that the necessary safety measures Licence (PROL) for the Point Lepreau Nuclear and equipment are in place to protect the public, Generating Station (PLNGS). employees and the environment.

The decision was announced on June 15 following Part 1 of the hearing process occurred on January 26, a two-part public hearing process. 2017, in Ottawa, ON, involving presentations from NB Power and CNSC staff to the CNSC Commission, an In June 2016, NB Power applied for a five-year PROL independent tribunal. issued by Canada’s independent federal nuclear regulator, the CNSC, since the previous PROL The public, Aboriginal groups, community members expired in June 2017. and other stakeholders were encouraged to get involved in the regulatory process by registering The CNSC staff assessed the licence application and with the CNSC to participate in the Part 2 hearing confirmed that the safety measures in place at PLNGS as intervenors. Approximately 94 intervenors meet the regulatory requirements of the Nuclear Safety provided written submissions about their views of PLNGS relicensing.

ONE TEAM. ONE PLAN.

2 The staff at Point Lepreau are focused on working as One Team, with One Plan, to operate the Station safely and reliably.

The Part 2 hearing for PLNGS licence renewal took place in Saint John May 9-11. With our new licence achieved, we’ll focus on continuously‘‘ ‘‘ improving at the Station while generating safe, reliable, emission-free nuclear power for our customers. - Brett Plummer

Part 2 of the hearing process representing diverse stakeholders, transparent public hearing process. occurred May 9-11, 2017, in Saint Aboriginal communities, local With our new licence achieved, John, NB. The Commission communities and organizations; we’ll focus on continuously Members continued the hearing many of whom are partners on our improving at the Station while process with participation from journey towards Excellence.” generating safe, reliable, NB Power and CNSC staff. During emission-free nuclear power for Part 2, 40 of the 94 registered From NB Power’s perspective, the our customers.” intervenors had the opportunity hearing went very well overall. to make presentations to the During the proceedings, the Point Visit the CNSC website at CNSC Commission. Lepreau team demonstrated www.nuclearsafety.gc.ca/eng to that the Station is safe and fully learn more about licensing for “We’d like to thank all of the qualified to continue operation for nuclear power plants in Canada. individuals, communities and the next five-year licensing period. organizations who took the time to participate in the regulatory “Our team addressed some process,” says Brett Plummer, challenging questions, and had Vice President Nuclear and Chief opportunities to highlight some of Nuclear Officer. “The hearing our successes and strengths,” said provided us with meaningful Brett. “We valued the opportunity feedback from intervenors to participate in an open and

3 ENSURING PROTECTION OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT SURROUNDING THE STATION

Point Lepreau’s environmental performance The design of our CCW system has been recognized has been reviewed many times through formal as the “best available technology” for mitigating environmental assessments and ecological and effects on the marine environment, and it remains human health risk assessments. Each review has state-of-the-art in Canada and around the world. confirmed that the Station continues to have very minimal environmental impact. The design of the intake structures incorporates several notable features including: Stewardship of the environment around the Plant is • Offshore intake and discharge structures designed as important to our employees as it is to those who to avoid interference with boats. live and work in the community. • An intake with multiple ports and a velocity cap When the Plant was designed, the engineering to minimize entrainment (the capture of small marine team collaborated with industry experts and federal organisms) into the cooling water flow. agencies including Environment Canada, to ensure all • A lower lip on the velocity cap to prevent benthic opportunities to minimize impacts on the environment, (bottom-dwelling) organisms from entering including marine, were considered. The CANDU-6 the system. design of PLNGS utilizes a Condenser Cooling Water • Racks upstream of the CCW Pump House to minimize (CCW) system. The CCW system is an essential impingement (larger creatures that can swim getting component of the non-nuclear (conventional) part of trapped on screens in the Pump House) while the Station, taking seawater from the Bay of Fundy to ensuring safe and reliable operation. condense steam as part of the Station’s steam cycle and providing cooling for various Station components, From 2014 to 2016, NB Power conducted studies on before discharging the seawater back into the Bay. both entrainment and impingement of marine

4 Protecting the marine environment around PLNGS is a Station priority. condenser cooling water system

REACTOR BUILDING

CONDENSER COOLING WATER CCW PUMP HOUSE BAY OF FUNDY

INTAKE TUNNEL 700 M LONG BAY OF FUNDY BURIED BENEATH SEA FLOOR DISCHARGE TUNNEL 465 M LONG BURIED BENEATH SEA FLOOR

LEPREAU PENINSULA DISCHARGE STRUCTURE INTAKE STRUCTURE SUBMERGED 5.8 M BELOWLOW TIDE LEVEL SUBMERGED 8.25 M AND 15.5 MBELOW HIGH BELOWLOW TIDE LEVEL TIDE LEVEL AND 18 MBELOW HIGH TIDE LEVEL

organisms in the Bay of Fundy related to the CCW engagement will be part of this process. This topic system. The studies confirmed earlier research which was discussed at the Part 2 Public Hearing for the specified that the CCW system does not cause renewal of Point Lepreau’s operating licence significant harm to fish populations or to commercial, in May 2017. recreational or Aboriginal fisheries. In the spirit of continuous improvement, PLNGS is NB Power has used this field data and the design going to conduct additional validation studies related information to prepare a self-assessment of the effects to the cooling water system, this time on the discharge of the CCW. This self-assessment was submitted to the side where the cooling water leaves the plant and Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) in returns to the Bay of Fundy. The water discharged into January 2017. the ocean is slightly warmer than the seawater, which is referred to as a thermal plume. New technologies Due to legislative changes by Fisheries and Oceans will be used for these studies to provide an updated Canada, NB Power will be applying for a Fisheries assessment of the thermal plume to continue to ensure Act Authorization in the Fall of 2017. Community minimal impact on the marine environment.

Stewardship of the environment around the Plant is as important to our employees as it is to those who live and work in the community. 5 SECURITY EXERCISE TESTS EMERGENCY RESPONSE CAPABILITIES

Nuclear power plants are among The Canadian Nuclear Safety to ensure members are fully the most secure industrial facilities Commission (CNSC) holds nuclear qualified, with drills to test their in Canada. Since September 11, power plants to the highest of response capabilities. 2001, the nuclear industry has security standards and the Point substantially enhanced security Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station Every two years, the Station holds at facilities around the world. (PLNGS) meets or exceeds these a large-scale security performance standards while constantly looking testing exercise involving external Highly trained and equipped for ways to learn and improve. response agencies. Security Teams have been increased, hardened security One of the ways that we ensure The most recent exercise took perimeters have been extended, readiness for a variety of scenarios place on May 31, 2017, with more and high-tech detection and is through training drills and than 100 participants. It was the surveillance equipment has been exercises. The Nuclear Response largest, most comprehensive installed to protect against both Force Team at PLNGS has a security exercise ever held at the physical and cyber threats. comprehensive training program Station, and involved many work

The Nuclear Response Force Team at PLNGS Members of the PLNGS Nuclear Response Force. has a comprehensive training program to ensure members are fully qualified, with drills to test their response capabilities. 6 I am proud of the dedication, efforts and hard work of the entire“ “ department who helped to make this exercise a success. - Chris Fields, Security Commander at PLNGS

groups to make it as realistic The exercise tested Station Fields, Security Commander at as possible. security contingency procedures PLNGS. “Exercises give responders as required by the Nuclear Safety a chance to practice their skills The exercise involved the Canadian and Control Act, and confirmed and identify any opportunities Adversary Testing Team (CATT), Station readiness for security for improvement so we can be as comprised of volunteers from emergencies. The exercise was prepared as possible as a Station. several high-security nuclear evaluated by the CNSC. I am proud of the dedication, response forces. Together, they efforts and hard work of the entire played the role of a credible “We are pleased with the successful department who helped to make adversary in a safe, realistic and outcome of the security exercise; all this exercise a success.” challenging scenario. objectives were met,” said Chris

7 PLANNED MAINTENANCE OUTAGES IMPROVE EQUIPMENT RELIABILITY OF PLNGS

From April 7 to May 7, PLNGS testing, equipment repairs Preparation for the 2018 Outage is was offline to conduct diverse and replacements and system well underway, with key work to be maintenance during the Equipment modifications and upgrades. completed identified and planning Reliability Outage 2017. in progress. The 2018 Outage is With an overriding focus on scheduled to begin April 6, 2018, Approximately 600 contractors preventing safety incidents with the target duration currently joined the Point Lepreau team on every job, the Station projected to be approximately five for the Outage, along with takes pride in the fact that to six weeks. more than two dozen NB Power the Outage was completed employees from other locations without any significant injuries NB Power recently filed in the province. to employees or contractors. documentation with the Energy and Utilities Board outlining Together, they completed more Due to increased focus on plans to further adjust the than 6,000 activities on equipment improving equipment reliability, multi-year outage plan by adding and systems on both the nuclear this Outage had been added to a maintenance outage for 2019. and conventional parts of the the Station’s multi-year planned This Outage will provide further Station. Work included inspections, maintenance strategy last year. equipment reliability gains.

“The enhanced multi-year outage strategy will complement the focused efforts we’re making to improve equipment reliability in the running state,” said Wayne Woodworth, Outage Manager. “We are taking the necessary steps now to ensure safe, reliable and predictable operation for the next 25 to 30 years. We play a major role in meeting the energy needs of New Brunswickers with safe and emission-free electricity.”

Kathleen Duguay Manager, Community Affairs and Nuclear Regulatory Protocol Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station [email protected] (506) 659-6433 www.nbpower.com

Employees Leah Lamey and Ryan Melanson of Operations, installing isolations during the Equipment Reliability Outage 2017.