Potassium Iodide Pill Working Group Teleconference – Discuss Comments received during Phase I Report Public Comment Period

Agenda

1. Opening remarks
2. Draft Phase I Report Public Review Comments
3. Comments from Curve Lake First Nation
4. Next steps

Date

September 28, 2021

Time

10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Duration

2 hour

1. Opening remarks

CNSC staff welcomed KI Pill Working Group members to the meeting. The purpose of this meeting was to review the comments received on the Draft Phase I report during the public review period, as well as to review the comments received from Curve Lake First Nation.

The KI Pill Working Group's draft Phase I report was open for consultation from April 6 to July 5, 2021 through CNSC’s e-consultation page. The CNSC received 16 distinct comments from 3 reviewers during this pubic review period.

CNSC staff also attended a regularly scheduled meeting with Curve Lake First Nation in May 2021. In July 2021 the Curve Lake First Nation also submitted comments on the draft Phase I Report. Comments received from Curve Lake First Nation were shared with the Working Group members.

CNSC indicated that they will be revising the draft Phase I report to address the comments received based on input from Working Group members. Upon completion, a comment disposition table will be shared with Working Group members.

2. Draft Phase I Report Public Review Comments

The CNSC went through the different sections of the draft Phase I report and provided a summary of some of the comments received. All comments received from the public can be found on the CNSC’s e-consultation page. In addition, CNSC staff shared the Curve Lake First Nation submission.

Based on feedback received by Working Group members, below is a summary of some of the changes that will occur to the Draft Phase I report to address the comments:

General

• Change Emergency Management Organization (EMO) to Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management (OFMEM)
• Any comments relating to grammar or minor editorials were accepted and will be incorporated in the report
• Update references to plans/documents to ensure the most up to date version is used
• Include more information on how new homeowners/residents will be advised about obtaining KI pills
• The document does not mention Indigenous Communities, include reference to the Treaty Lands the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station resides on

Section 1: Introduction

• Revise definition of Vulnerable Population to align with external documents
• Remove contradictory statements relating to Target Population in Section 1.4.2 and 1.4.5
• Section 1.4.6, inaccurate reference to REGDOC- 2.10.1, change to PNERP

Section 2: Planning for KI distribution

• Revise text to clarify the roles and responsibilities of OPG in Table 3
• Add information on which manages the central stockpile

3. Comments from Curve Lake First Nation

CNSC staff met directly with Curve Lake First Nation to present the Draft Phase I Report and address any questions they may have on the KI Pill Working Group and/or the draft report. Following the meeting, Curve Lake First Nation submitted comments to CNSC staff inquiring about more information relating to the following items:

• Exposure pathways and impacts of I-131 beyond the human species (e.g. plants and animals)
• Planning basis and the determination of planning zones in the PNERP
• Roles and responsibilities for communicating with Indigenous communities on the decision-making process and distribution of KI pills
• Potential impacts/changes of KI Pill distribution from Small Modular Reactors

CNSC noted that the comments received by Curve Lake First Nation did not require any changes to the report but are valuable input to Phase II of the Working Group. CNSC indicated they will be meeting with Curve Lake First Nation in January 2022, to follow-up on their comments/questions with support from other CNSC technical specialists.

4. Next steps

CNSC will revise the Draft Phase I Report based on the feedback received from the Working Group. CNSC indicated they will arrange another KI Pill Working Group meeting in November/December 2021 to present the disposition of comments and discuss any final comments from the Working Group.

In November 2021, the CNSC will be conducting a Workshop with the CNSC Advisory Committee to solicit their comments/feedback on the draft Phase I Report. CNSC will provide more information to Working Group members on the comments received from the CNSC Advisory Committee at the next meeting.

CNSC indicated they will be presenting the final Phase I report to the CNSC Commission in January 2022 and are drafting the associated Commission Member Documents as part of the submission. CNSC indicated that all Working Group members are invited to attend the Commission proceeding, and if available, to respond to questions by the Commission related to their organization. CNSC will provide more information on the Commission Proceeding at the next Working Group meeting.