The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) Canada’s Nuclear Regulator Alberta Innovates Learning Series: Small Modular Nuclear Reactors February 16, 2021 Mr. Marcel DEVOS Senior Project Officer– Technology Reviews New Major Facilities Licensing Division Directorate of Regulatory Improvement and Major Projects Management Canadian Nuclear Commission canadienne Safety Commission de sûreté nucléaire e-Doc 6479939 THE CNSC REGULATES ALL NUCLEAR-RELATED FACILITIES AND ACTIVITIES • Uranium mines and mills • Uranium fuel fabrication and processing facilities • Nuclear power plants • Waste management facilities • Nuclear substances & equipment used in industrial, medical, research and educational applications • Transport • Export/import controls OVER THE FULL LIFECYCLE OF FACILITIES AND ACTIVITIES 2 OUR MANDATE REGULATE IMPLEMENT DISSEMINATE the use of nuclear Canada's international objective scientific, technical energy and commitments on the and regulatory information to materials to protect peaceful use of nuclear the public health, safety, and energy security and the environment OVER 7 DECADES YEARS OF REGULATORY EXPERIENCE 3 NOT PART OF OUR MANDATE… Promoting the use of nuclear energy Site or technology selection for proposed licensed activities Provincial and Federal Government energy policy such as what mix or types of energy to use Provincial and Federal Government waste policies Indigenous rights and treaty determination 4 CANADA’S REGULATORY APPROACH CNSC Responsibilities: Focus is on Safety Licensee (Regulated Party) Responsibilities First responsibility for safety. Manage regulated activities in a manner that protects the health, safety, security and the environment, while respecting Canada’s international obligations (consistent with the licence application). ALIGNED WITH CONTINUALLY IMPROVING GLOBAL PRACTICE 5 BENCHMARKED BY THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA) INDEPENDENT COMMISSION Ms. Rumina Dr. Timothy Dr. Sandor Dr. Marcel Dr. Stephen Ms. Indra Velshi Berube Demeter Lacroix McKinnon Maharaj TRANSPARENT, SCIENCE-BASED DECISION MAKING Quasi-judicial administrative tribunal Commission members are independent Agent of the Crown (Duty to Consult) Commission hearings are public and Reports to Parliament through Webcast Minister of Natural Resources Decisions are reviewable by Federal Court 6 nuclearsafety.gc.ca THE STAFF OF THE CNSC Scientific, technical and other professionals responsible for tasks such as: • assessing licence applications and making licensing recommendations • implementing the decisions of the Commission • verifying compliance with licences and regulations • providing advice on regulatory policy and options • developing requirements and guidance • performing regulatory research • engaging the public and Indigenous groups through outreach ANY INTERACTIONS WITH THE COMMISSION ARE THROUGH THE SAME SECRETARIAT MECHANISMS USED BY THE PUBLIC AND INDUSTRY 7 nuclearsafety.gc.ca CNSC STAFF LOCATED ACROSS CANADA Headquarters (HQ) in Ottawa 4 regional offices 1 site office at Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories Site offices at each of the 4 nuclear power plant sites: Calgary Saskatoon Point Lepreau HQ • Point Lepreau, NB – 1 reactor Chalk River Laval • Bruce, ON – 8 reactors • Pickering, ON – 8 reactors Bruce Darlington • Darlington, ON – 4 reactors Mississauga Pickering 8 nuclearsafety.gc.ca ONE CANADIAN NUCLEAR POWER PLANT REGULATED BY THE CNSC Darlington Generating Station, Ontario (east of Toronto) • Operated by Ontario Power Generation • In service since early 1990s • Supplies 20% of Ontario’s electricity • 4 CANDU Reactors (units) producing 875 electrical MW each • Each unit is undergoing Image source: Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission refurbishment to continue safe operation through 2055. 9 nuclearsafety.gc.ca WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT SMALL MODULAR REACTOR (SMR) TECHNOLOGIES FOR YEARS • In Canada: All Reactors facilities are regulated as Class 1A Nuclear Facilities − “SMR” has no legal meaning in Canada • We have been developing our understanding of how they might be different from traditional reactors and what those differences mean in a safety discussion − In 2016, we published a public discussion paper (DIS-16-04) to present views on key areas • We are reviewing SMR designs under a technology review process (Vendor Design Review) which gives us access to proprietary information. − No regulatory decisions are made but we do provide feedback to vendors on how they are addressing Canadian requirements − This enables our technical staff to prepare to engage with a future applicant MAINTAINING READINESS TO REGULATE 10 IN MANY WAYS, SMRS ARE NOT NEW 1 MW (electrical) can power approx. 800 homes Image source: Canadian Nuclear Society Image source: CNL.ca • Douglas Point Generating Station, Ontario • Whiteshell Reactor No.1 (WR-1), Manitoba (1967-1984) CANDU design (1965-1985) • 700 thermal MW producing 220 electrical MW • 60 thermal MW Oil-cooled Research Reactor • Factory manufactured reactor assemblies and • Used for experimentation, materials testing major systems transported to site and it also heated site buildings for assembly 11 11 GLOBAL FIRST POWER – CHALK RIVER, ON • Licence to Prepare Site application received in March 2019 • CNSC-led environmental assessment underway • 15 thermal MW facility to provide “high quality heat tailored to end-user needs” - up to 5 MW electrical generation • High temperature gas-cooled • Demonstrate commercial operation / maintenance Double Personnel Door (for scale) Reactor vessel assembly ∼ 14m tall by 123m wide 12 DARLINGTON NEW NUCLEAR PROJECT - ONTARIO POWER GENERATION, (OPG) • Holds Licence to Prepare Site for new site in Clarington, Ontario • Renewal hearing, June 2021 • In October OPG announced technology studies were in progress focusing on 3 reactor technologies • On December 2nd, OPG notified the CNSC of its intent to apply for a licence to construct by end of March 2022 13 LICENSING PROCESS FOR A PROJECT REGDOC-3.5.1, Licensing Process for Class I Nuclear Facilities and Uranium Mines and Mills, version 2 Environmental Environmental Protection Program Assessment Lifecycle Site Construction Operation Decommissioning Activities Preparation Licence to Licence to Prepare Site Licence to Operate Licence to Construct Decommission Associated REGDOC 1.1.1: Site Licence REGDOC 1.1.3: licence and REGDOC 1.1.2: REGDOC-1.1.4 (under Evaluation and Site Application Guide, Licence Application accompanying Preparation for New Guide: Licence to development) , Licence Licence to Construct a Application Guide: Licence Reactor Facilities Nuclear Power Plant Operate a Nuclear Application Power Plant Licence to Decommission Reactor Guide (LAG) Facilities REGDOC 1.1.5: Supplemental Information for Small Modular Reactor Proponents Extensive Public and Indigenous Consultation 14 BASIS OF A LICENSING DECISION BY THE COMMISSION Section 24(4) of the Nuclear Safety and Control Act (NSCA) No licence may be issued, renewed, amended or replaced unless, in the opinion of the Commission, the applicant: (a) is qualified to carry on the activity that the licence will authorize the licensee to carry on; and (b) will, in carrying on that activity, make adequate provision for the protection of the environment, the health and safety of persons and the maintenance of national security and measures required to implement international obligations to which Canada has agreed Applicant is expected to demonstrate, using evidence that (a) and (b) are true in 14 Safety and Control Areas addressed in the licensing process 15 WHAT ARE SAFETY AND CONTROL AREAS? 14 cross-cutting technical topics used to assess, review, verify and report on regulatory requirements and performance across all regulated facilities and activities Examples include: • Design • Radiation Protection • Emergency Management and Fire Protection • Environmental Protection • Waste Management • Security 16 nuclearsafety.gc.ca CNSC STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COMMISSION FOLLOW A RISK INFORMED APPROACH AND INCORPORATE: • Analyses and recommendations from CNSC staff, based on their assessment of both licensee and stakeholder submissions to the Commission – staff has a challenge function – “show me how you meet requirements” – CNSC staff consult with other Federal and Provincial agencies when conducting assessments • Best available science and technology information (e.g regulatory research and cooperation with other regulators) • Indigenous consultation • Public input, through the formal hearing process Understanding risks and mitigating those risks plays a significant role in the decision-making process. But the Commission ultimately makes the decisions 17 HOW DOES THE CNSC ASSESS THE CLAIMS BEING MADE BY AN APPLICANT? • We use requirements and guidance contained in the CNSC’s regulatory framework • Requirements: “Shall”, “Must” – Based on proven fundamental safety principles: must be achieved to demonstrate an appropriate level of safety to a high degree of confidence • Guidance: “Should” – typically drawn from experience and past practice - information that needs to be considered in addressing requirements These form the starting point for an assessment regardless of the technology type and level of novelty 18 nuclearsafety.gc.ca WHAT ABOUT SMRs AS NEW TECHNOLOGIES? They will need to be proven to be effective and must still meet requirements. • The more important to safety they are, the higher the burden of proof (scientific data, modelling, testing) • Where there are knowledge gaps, an applicant will need to compensate