Redevelopment of the Port Hope Conversion Facility (Vision 2010)

Environmental assessment (EA) start date: October 19, 2006
CEAR reference number: 06-03-22672
Proponent: Cameco Corporation
Location: Port Hope, Ontario

Latest update:

• February 28, 2013: CNSC course of action decision statement
• December 14, 2012: Canada's Environment Minister announces decision on the environmental assessment of the proposed Vision 2010 redevelopment project for Cameco Corporation's Port Hope Conversion Facility (source: CEAA website)
• June 26, 2012: The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency invites public comments on the comprehensive study report (source: CEAA web site)
• June 18, 2012: Record of proceedings – Cameco Corporation – Comprehensive study report for Cameco Corporation's proposed redevelopment of the Port Hope Conversion Facility (Vision 2010) (PDF)
• September 22, 2011: Request for public comment – Draft comprehensive study report – redevelopment of the Port Hope Conversion Facility (Vision 2010)
• March 7, 2011: The document entitled "Draft, Cameco Vision 2010: environmental impact statement: Port Hope Conversion Facility, December 2010" is available on request
• February 10, 2011: Vision 2010 redevelopment project for Cameco Corporation's Port Hope Conversion Facility federal funding awarded to participate in the environmental assessment
• November 3, 2010: $10,000 in additional federal funding available
• January 20, 2010: Removal of centre pier buildings to be incorporated into Vision 2010 environmental assessment (source: Cameco Web site)
• December 21, 2009: Milestones for the redevelopment of Cameco Corporation's Port Hope Conversion Facility (Vision 2010)
• July 13, 2009:Final environmental assessment guidelines available
• March 27, 2009: Federal funding awarded to participate in the environmental assessment of the Proposed Vision 2010 redevelopment project for Cameco Corporation's Port Hope Conversion Facility
• March 27, 2009: Participant Funding Program review committee's report
• March 24, 2009: Cameco's Vision 2010 Project: environmental assessment to proceed as a comprehensive study
• December 18, 2008: CNSC announces decision on environmental assessment track report regarding Cameco Corporation's proposal for the Vision 2010 project
• September 29, 2008: Revised: Notice of a one-day public hearing on November 6 to consider the environmental assessment track report (track report) and the proposed environmental assessment guidelines (EA Guidelines), consult the revised notice of public hearing (PDF)
• August 1, 2008: Notice of a one-day public hearing on October 8 to consider the environmental assessment track report (track report) and the proposed environmental assessment guidelines (EA guidelines), consult the notice of public hearing (PDF)
• March 5, 2008: Public notice: Request for public comment on draft environmental assessment guidelines / Participant funding availability

Project description

In a letter to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), Cameco Corporation (Cameco) proposed the Vision 2010 project, which involves a comprehensive redevelopment of its Port Hope Conversion Facility located in Port Hope, Ontario.

The project consists of decommissioning and demolishing approximately 20 old or underutilized buildings, removing contaminated soils, building materials and stored historical wastes, and constructing new replacement buildings. Onsite plant operations would be maintained while the works are being carried out.

Three of the 20 buildings that will be decommissioned include:

• north UO₂/Waste Recovery Building (Building No. 2)
• metals plant (building no. 5C)
• east UF₆ (building no. 27)

Each of these three buildings are Class 1B nuclear facilities used to refine or convert uranium with a capacity of more than 100 tonnes per year.

On January 20, 2010, Cameco Corporation announced that the centre pier buildings will be included in the redevelopment. The centre pier buildings will be added to the “preliminary list of buildings to be decommissioned and/or demolished,” as defined in the scope of the project in section 2.1 of the comprehensive study environmental assessment guidelines. This does not change the scope of the project which includes the entire licensed site.

The proposed project is to be carried out in conjunction with the Port Hope Area Initiative, a joint federal-municipal government undertaking for the cleanup and long-term management of low-level radioactive and industrial waste in the Municipality of Port Hope, Ontario. Vision 2010 is considered as the “near-term decommissioning component” of the overall site decommissioning strategy.

CNSC authorization of the Vision 2010 project requires an action by the Commission made under the authority set out in subsection 24(2) of the Nuclear Safety and Control Act (NSCA). Before the Commission can make a licensing decision regarding this proposal, a comprehensive study EA of the proposal must be conducted in compliance with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA). The purpose of an EA is to identify potential adverse environmental effects of a proposal before irrevocable decisions are made.

Milestones for the redevelopment of Cameco Corporation's Port Hope Conversion Facility (Vision 2010)

Further information

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