Refurbishment and continued operation of the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station

Environment assessment (EA) start date: June 24, 2011
CEAR reference number: 11-01-62516
Proponent: Ontario Power Generation (OPG)
Location: Darlington Nuclear Site, Municipality of Clarington, Ontario

Latest updates

• November 26, 2014 – Federal Court dismisses judicial review on EA decision for Darlington refurbishment  (source: Federal Court)
• July 26, 2013 – Request for public comment – Darlington Refurbishment EA follow-up program (source: CEAA)
• March 14, 2013 – Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) course of action decision statement
• June 4, 2012 – Request for public comment – Draft EA screening report (PDF, source: CEAA)
• June 4, 2012 – Technical review comments on the environmental impact statement (source: OPG)
• January 31, 2012 – Availability of funding to participate in the CNSC's regulatory process for the EA concerning the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station refurbishment and continued operation (PDF)
• October 28, 2011 – Record of proceedings – Ontario Power Generation Inc. – EA scoping information document (scope of project and assessment) for the proposed Darlington Nuclear Generating Station refurbishment and continued operation (PDF)
• July 21, 2011 – Request for public comment – Draft scoping information document (PDF, source: CEAA)

Project description

The CNSC received a project description from OPG for the refurbishment and continued operation of the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station (DNGS).

The proposed project involves the refurbishment of the four reactors at the DNGS and the continued operation of each reactor for a period of approximately 30 years following refurbishment. Refurbishment will require that a number of major components in each reactor be inspected and serviced, including replacement as applicable, during a planned outage. A key refurbishment activity will be removal and replacement of the fuel channel assemblies and feeder pipes in the reactors. Following the planned outage for each reactor, the refurbished unit will be refuelled and returned to full power operation. No more than two reactors will be in refurbishment outages at any given time. Ongoing operation after refurbishment, including ancillary systems, will include routine scheduled maintenance activities and inspections. The on-site Darlington Waste Management Facility (DWMF) will be expanded (i.e., additional storage buildings) to accommodate waste from refurbishment and continued operations.

In order for OPG to undertake the proposed activities required to refurbish and continue to operate the DNGS, amendments to both the DNGS and DWMF licences pursuant to section 24(2) of the Nuclear Safety and Control Act (NSCA) are required.

Before the Commission may consider a decision on licensing under the NSCA regarding OPG's proposal, a screening level 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 determine whether these effects can be mitigated before the project is allowed to proceed.

Further information

CNSC maintains a public registry of documents related to its environmental assessments. Lists and copies of documents may be obtained upon request. For questions or information directly related to this environmental assessment, contact the CNSC.