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Deep Geologic Repository Joint Review Panel Commission dexamen conjoint du projet de stockage dans des couches géologiques profondes PMD 13-P1.1A File / dossier : 8.01.07 Date: 2013-07-23 Edocs: 4176322 Written Submission from Mémoire de Ontario Power Generation Inc. Ontario Power Generation Inc. In the Matter of À l’égard de Ontario Power Generation Inc. Ontario Power Generation Inc. Proposed Environmental Impact Statement Étude proposée pour l’énoncé des incidences for OPG’s Deep Geological Repository environnementales pour l’Installation de (DGR) Project for Low and Intermediate stockage de déchets radioactifs à faible et Level Waste moyenne activité dans des couches géologiques profondes Joint Review Panel Commission d’examen conjoint September 16 to October 12, 2013 16 septembre au 12 octobre 2013 ORIGINAL PANEL MEMBER DOCUMENT (PMD) PMD 13-P1.1A Date Submitted: 23 July 2013 Reference PMDs: PMD 13-P1.1 Ontario Power Generation 3XEOLF+HDULQJIRU2QWDULR3RZHU*HQHUDWLRQ¶V'HHSGeologic Repository for Low and Intermediate Level Waste Scheduled for: September 16, 2013 Request for a Decision Regarding: Environmental Assessment for OntarLR3RZHU*HQHUDWLRQ¶VApplication to Prepare a Site and Construct a Deep Geologic Repository for Low and Intermediate Level Waste Submitted by: Ontario Power Generation This page has been left blank intentionally Written Submission Regarding the Environmental Assessment for 23*¶V'HHS*HRORJLF Repository for Low & Intermediate Level Waste TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY«««««««««««««««««««««««««««LLL 1.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 1 2.0 PURPOSE AND NEED FOR THE PROJECT ...................................................... 2 2.1 Description of the Project ..................................................................................... 4 2.2 Alternatives .......................................................................................................... 5 2.2.1 Alternatives to the Project ...................................................................................... 6 2.2.2 Alternative Means of Carrying Out the Project ...................................................... 6 3.0 PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT ................................................. 7 4.0 FIRST NATIONS ENGAGEMENT ....................................................................... 9 5.0 MÉTIS ENGAGEMENT ........................................................................................ 9 5.1 Historic Saugeen Métis ...................................................................................... 10 5.2 Métis Nation of Ontario ...................................................................................... 10 6.0 APPROACH TO THE ASSESSMENT ............................................................... 11 6.1 The Precautionary Principle ............................................................................... 11 6.2 Sustainability Considerations ............................................................................. 11 6.3 Traditional Knowledge ....................................................................................... 12 7.0 EFFECTS OF THE PROJECT AND MITIGATION ............................................ 12 7.1 Geology ............................................................................................................. 13 7.1.1 Cap Rock Barrier Integrity .................................................................................... 13 7.1.2 Pore Fluid Residence Times ................................................................................ 14 7.1.3 Repository Geomechanics ................................................................................... 14 7.1.4 Waste Rock Management Area ........................................................................... 14 7.1.5 Effects of Dewatering ........................................................................................... 15 7.1.6 Historical Contamination ...................................................................................... 15 7.1.7 Seismicity ............................................................................................................. 15 7.2 Hydrology and Surface Water Quality ................................................................ 16 7.2.1 Hydrology ............................................................................................................. 16 7.2.2 Surface Water Quality .......................................................................................... 18 7.3 Terrestrial Environment ...................................................................................... 19 7.3.1 At-Risk Species .................................................................................................... 20 7.4 Aquatic Environment .......................................................................................... 21 7.5 Radiological Conditions...................................................................................... 22 7.5.1 Radionuclide Inventory ........................................................................................ 22 7.5.2 Radiological Environmental Monitoring Program (REMP) ................................... 22 7.5.3 Dose ..................................................................................................................... 23 7.6 Atmospheric Environment .................................................................................. 25 7.6.1 Air Quality ............................................................................................................. 25 7.6.2 Noise and Vibration .............................................................................................. 27 PMD 13-P1.1A i July 23, 2013 Written Submission Regarding the Environmental Assessment for 23*¶V'HHS*HRORJLF Repository for Low & Intermediate Level Waste 7.7 Aboriginal Interests ............................................................................................ 28 7.7.1 First Nations ......................................................................................................... 29 7.7.2 Métis ..................................................................................................................... 29 7.8 Socio-Economic Environment ............................................................................ 31 7.8.1 Economic Modelling ............................................................................................. 31 7.8.2 Tourism ................................................................................................................ 32 7.8.3 Stigma and Property Values ................................................................................ 33 7.8.4 Cultural and Heritage Resources ......................................................................... 33 7.9 Human Health and Quality of Life ...................................................................... 34 7.10 Ecological Features ........................................................................................... 35 7.11 Effects of the Environment on the Project .......................................................... 36 8.0 MALFUNCTIONS, ACCIDENTS AND MALEVOLENT ACTS ........................... 37 9.0 LONG-TERM SAFETY OF THE DGR ................................................................ 39 10.0 CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ................................................................................... 42 11.0 FOLLOW-UP MONITORING .............................................................................. 43 12.0 CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................................. 44 13.0 REFERENCES ................................................................................................... 45 14.0 GLOSSARY ....................................................................................................... 48 PMD 13-P1.1A ii July 23, 2013 Written Submission Regarding the Environmental Assessment for 23*¶V'HHS*HRORJLF Repository for Low & Intermediate Level Waste EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This written submission presents DQRYHUYLHZRI2QWDULR3RZHU*HQHUDWLRQ¶V 23* SURMHFWIRU long-term management of its low and intermediate radioactive waste in a Deep Geologic Repository (DGR) to be located at the Bruce nuclear site in the Municipality of Kincardine, Ontario. $VXPPDU\RI23*¶VHQYLURQPHQWDOLPSDFWVWDWHPHQWIRUWKH'*R Project is also presented. Throughout the public comment period, which began on February 3, 2012, and ended on May 24, 2013, OPG provided responses to 575 Information Requests from the Joint Review Panel. OPG also provided submissions in support of its presentations at three Technical Information Sessions. The Information Request responses provided further information and/or clarification of information presented on the characteristics of the waste to be emplaced in the DGR, the assessment of alternatives to the project, the integrity of the cap rock sequence, management of stormwater and waste rock pile runoff, effects on at-risk species, effects on human health, livestock and wildlife particularly from predicted noise emissions, and the effects RIFOLPDWHFKDQJHDQGVHLVPLFLW\7KLVDGGLWLRQDOLQIRUPDWLRQZKLFKLVVXSSOHPHQWDOWR23*¶V April 14, 2011, submission to the Joint Review Panel, is summarized, as appropriate, in this Panel Member Document. The supplementary information provided in the Technical Information Sessions and