Modifications to the Gentilly radioactive waste management facilities and refurbishment of the Gentilly-2 nuclear power station

Environment assessment (EA) start date: November 29, 2002
Type: Screening
FEAI reference number: 35287
Proponent: Hydro-Québec
Location: Bécancour, Québec

Latest update

• December 22, 2006 – Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) announces decision on screening EA
• September 7, 2006 – Notice of public hearing on the screening report
• May 23, 2006 – Request for public comment on the draft screening report
• November 18, 2005 – Updated project description (below)
• November 18, 2005 – New EA guidelines
• October 6, 2005 – CNSC announces decision on new EA guidelines for the Gentilly-2 refurbishment project
• August 29, 2003 – EA guidelines
• August 29, 2003 – CNSC announces decision on EA guidelines for the Gentilly-2 radioactive waste management facility (RWMF)
• April 11, 2003 – Notice public hearing – June 26, 2003
• March 14, 2003 – Request for public comment on the draft EA guidelines – Comment period closed
• February 12, 2003 – Request for public comment on the draft EA guidelines
• February 12, 2003 – Draft EA guidelines

Project description

The CNSC has received notice from Hydro-Québec of its plans to refurbish the Gentilly-2 nuclear generating station in order to keep it in operation until 2035 and of its intent to apply for authorization to perform modifications to the radioactive waste and spent fuel storage facilities located at the Gentilly nuclear facility in Bécancour, Québec. Authorization for these modifications is sought due to refurbishment work being considered on the Gentilly-2 nuclear generating station. No request for authorization to proceed with the refurbishment has yet been requested by Hydro-Québec.

Before the CNSC makes its decision on Hydro-Québec's application regarding modifications to the waste facility, an environmental assessment must be completed in compliance with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.

The proposed modifications and construction of new structures are needed to enable Hydro-Québec to better manage the radioactive waste resulting from the refurbishment work it is considering for Gentilly-2 nuclear power station. All construction activities would occur within the power station's exclusion area and in the immediate vicinity of the radioactive waste and spent fuel storage areas currently authorized by the CNSC.

The purpose of the EA is to identify the possible environmental effects of the project and to determine whether these effects can be mitigated before the project is allowed to proceed.

The project includes:

• reloading fuel into the reactor
• putting the generating station back in service following refurbishment
• extending the operating life of the generating station and its operation to 2035
• the modification and construction of works at the solid radioactive waste management facility (SRWMF) and the used fuel dry storage facility (UFDSF)
• the operation of works at the RWMF, the UFDSF and the SRWMF

Steps ahead

• Commission decision on the EA.

Further information

CNSC maintains a public registry of documents related to its EAs. For more information about this EA, please contact:

For questions or information directly related to the environmental assessment of this project, contact the CNSC.

The CNSC regulates the use of nuclear energy and materials to protect health, safety, security and the environment, and to implement Canada's international commitments on the peaceful use of nuclear energy; and to disseminate objective scientific, technical and regulatory information to the public.