Nuclear facility - Whiteshell Laboratories
The Whiteshell Laboratories (WL) site is a former nuclear research and test establishment located approximately 100 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg near the town of Pinawa, Manitoba. The WL site encompasses an area of 4,375 hectares and includes facilities such as the Whiteshell Reactor #1 (WR-1), shielded facilities, radioactive waste management area, and various research laboratories and support buildings. WL operated for approximately 40 years before decommissioning of the site began in 2003.
Photo: Courtesy of Canadian Nuclear Laboratories
| Location: | Pinawa, Manitoba |
|---|---|
| Licensee: | Canadian Nuclear Laboratories Ltd. (CNL) |
| Reactor types: |
Whiteshell Reactor 1 (WR-1), 60 MWth organically cooled research reactor SLOWPOKE Demonstration Reactor (SDR), 2 MWth SLOWPOKE reactor |
| Owner: | Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) |
| Status: |
WR-1 operated from 1965 to 1985 and is currently in storage-with-surveillance SDR was operated from 1989 to 1990 and is partially decommissioned |
| Licence issued: | January 1, 2020 |
| Licence expires: | December 31, 2024 |
| Start of operation: | Early 1960s |
| Licensing documentation: | Request a copy of Whiteshell Laboratories’ licence and licence conditions handbook by emailing cnsc.info.ccsn@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca |
| Facility website: | Whiteshell Laboratories (Canadian Nuclear Laboratories) |
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. Use the links below to find documents related to Commission meetings or hearings.
- Record of decision on CNL’s application to renew its decommissioning licence for Whiteshell Laboratories, 2019
- CNSC staff recommendations to the Commission on CNL’s application to renew its decommissioning licence for Whiteshell Laboratories, 2018
- Record of proceedings, including reasons for decision, on AECL’s request to transfer licences to CNL, 2014
- Record of proceedings, including reasons for decision, on AECL’s application to renew the decommissioning licence for Whiteshell Laboratories, 2008
- Record of proceedings, including reasons for decision, on AECL’s application for a licence to decommission Whiteshell Laboratories, 2002
Regulatory actions
The CNSC posts regulatory enforcement actions taken to protect the health, safety and security of Canadians and the environment. Use the links below to find out more about any orders or penalties that have been placed on this licensee.
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.
Protecting Canadians and the environment
Environment
The CNSC uses information provided by licensees to create our own reports assessing the environmental effects of nuclear facilities or licensed activities.
- 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: External Canadian Nuclear Laboratories dataset in the Open Government catalogue for information on releases from this facility
- 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.
- CNL – In the Community: CNL public information and disclosure program
- CNSC health studies on Canadian nuclear facilities: Relevant health studies of nuclear reactors regulated by the CNSC
Related Links:
- October 11, 2023: Fall 2023 Update on the Whiteshell Reactor #1 Project
- February 22, 2022: Update on Whiteshell Reactor #1 project
- September 1, 2021: Summer update on WR-1 decommissioning project
- June 1, 2021: Spring 2021 update on the WR-1 decommissioning project
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