Waste diversion proposal

Environment assessment (EA) start date: July 3, 2003
Type: Screening
FEAI reference number: 38418
Proponent: MDS Nordion
Location: Kanata, Ontario

Latest update

• June 24, 2004 – EA Decision by a designated officer - Having considered the screening report and comments filed from the public, the designated officer accepted that the project, taking into account the mitigation measures, will not cause significant adverse environmental effects and that public concerns do not warrant a reference to a mediator or review panel. The designated officer then rendered his decision in accordance with section 20(1)(a) of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and directed Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) staff to proceed with the licensing process related to the project.
• May 17, 2004 – Request for public comment – Draft EA screening report – Comment period closed
• April 16, 2004 – Request for public comment - Screening report – MDS Nordion Waste Diversion Program

Project description

The CNSC has received notice from MDS Nordion, seeking an amendment to an existing licence to authorize the segregation of waste from its nuclear processing facility, and the disposal of non-hazardous radioactive waste together with conventional waste, at its processing facility in Kanata, Ontario. The existing facility is licensed with a nuclear substance processing facility operating licence under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act. An EA was completed for the Kanata Facility in May, 2000.

The proposed project would separate non-hazardous radioactive waste from the waste produced in the area where nuclear substances are processed and dispose of these wastes with conventional waste. The criteria for waste to be included in the non-hazardous waste stream would be based on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) standards for unconditional clearance levels. These are levels below which radioactive waste are exempted from regulatory control.

Before the Commission makes its decision on MDS Nordion’s proposal to segregate radioactive waste and to divert the non-hazardous waste, an EA must be completed in compliance with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. The purpose of an EA is to identify the possible environmental effects of a proposed project, and to determine whether these effects can be mitigated before the project is allowed to proceed.

Further information

For questions or information directly related to 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.