Nuclear facility – Near Surface Disposal Facility
The near surface disposal facility (NSDF), an engineered disposal facility for low‑level radioactive waste, will be constructed by Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) on the Chalk River Laboratories site. The facility will be an engineered containment mound built at near surface level, consisting of disposal cells with a base liner system and a cover system, as well as systems to collect leachate, detect leaks and monitor the environment. The NSDF will have a planned operating life of at least 50 years.
All waste disposed of at the facility will be required to meet established waste acceptance criteria to ensure compliance with operational and long-term safety requirements.
Photo: courtesy of Canadian Nuclear Laboratories
| Location: | Deep River, Ontario, on the Chalk River Laboratories campus |
|---|---|
| Licensee: | Canadian Nuclear Laboratories |
| Owner: | Canadian Nuclear Laboratories |
| Status: | Licence to construct |
| Licence issued: | January 8, 2024 |
| Licence expires: | March 31, 2028 |
| Licensing documentation: | Request a copy of CNL’s licence and licence conditions handbook by emailing cnsc.info.ccsn@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca |
| Facility website: | CNL’s near surface disposal facility web page |
Latest news
Commission proceedings
The Commission is an independent administrative tribunal set up at arm's length from government, without ties to the nuclear industry.
- January 9, 2024 – News Release: Independent Commission authorizes Canadian Nuclear Laboratories to construct a near surface disposal facility
- January 8, 2024 – Record of Decision – Canadian Nuclear Laboratories – Application to amend the nuclear research and test establishment operating licence for the Chalk River Laboratories site to authorize the construction of a Near Surface Disposal Facility
- June 9, 2023 – Notice of Adjournment of Public Hearing
- May 17, 2023 – Revised Notice of Public Hearing and Procedural Guidance for Final Submissions – Revision 2
- March 23, 2023 – Revised Notice of Public Hearing and Procedural Guidance for Final Submissions
- January 31, 2023 – Notice of Public Hearing and Procedural Guidance for Final Submissions
Regulatory actions
The CNSC posts regulatory enforcement actions taken to protect the health, safety and security of Canadians and the environment. Find out about any orders or penalties placed on a particular licensee.
- No recent regulatory actions
Disclosure
Licensees must report events and incidents involving licensed activities that could impact the health, safety and security of Canadians and the environment to the CNSC. Use the links below to find any information provided by this licensee, as well as other public disclosures made by licensees.
- No recent regulatory actions
Federal Court
- February 20, 2025: Federal Court decision – Concerned Citizens of Renfrew County and Area v. Canadian Nuclear Laboratories
- February 19, 2025: Federal Court decision – Kebaowek First Nation v. Canadian Nuclear Laboratories
Protecting Canadians and the environment
Environment
Environmental assessments (EAs) help guide the decision-making process for an implementation of a proposed nuclear project before it is licensed. The Government of Canada enacted the Impact Assessment Act in 2019 to update its assessment process, but the CNSC still has several projects undergoing federal EAs that are following the process established under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA 2012).
Refer to the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry page for the near surface disposal facility project to access the EA documents.
- Environmental monitoring: Independent environmental monitoring results collected by the CNSC.
- Federal, provincial and municipal monitoring programs: List of monitoring programs managed by other levels of government
- Radionuclide releases: Canadian Nuclear Laboratories dataset in the Open Government catalogue
- Environmental risk assessment: Email cnsc.info.ccsn@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca to request a copy
Health and safety
The CNSC oversees licensee emergency planning and works with other levels of government to ensure the health and safety of Canadians. We also conduct and review health studies on various areas associated with the production, possession or use of nuclear substances.
- CNSC health studies on Canadian nuclear facilities: Relevant health studies of nuclear reactors regulated by the CNSC
Related links
- Media kit: Near surface disposal facility
- Chalk River Laboratories
- Near surface disposal facility (NSDF) – Licensing review process
- Submissions for Part 1 and Part 2 of the hearing and for the hearing for final oral submissions
- Archived recordings of Part 1 and Part 2 of the hearing and of the hearing for final oral submissions
- Update on the near surface disposal facility project (archived page)
- Near surface disposal facility project, Canadian Impact Assessment Registry
- Spring 2021 update on the near surface disposal facility project
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