Transfer and storage of radioactive liquid waste

Environment assessment (EA) start date: August 12, 2003
Type: Screening
FEAI reference number: 38942
Proponent: Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL)
Location: Chalk River, Ontario

Latest update

• April 25, 2006 – The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) announces decision on screening EA for the Liquid Waste Storage Facility Project at Chalk River Laboratories
• March 30, 2006 – Panel of the Commission
• February 24, 2006 – Request for public comment – Draft screening report – Comment period closed
• February 10, 2006 – Request for public comment – Draft screening report
• January 8, 2004 – EA guidelines issued by the CNSC

Project description

The CNSC has received notice that AECL is seeking an amendment to its operating licence to authorize the construction of new storage facilities for radioactive liquid waste stored on site at the Chalk River Laboratories. The project includes the transfer and consolidation of the existing waste, as well as the construction and operation of the new storage tanks.

The project proposed by AECL includes the consolidation and retrieval of the liquid wastes and tank rinses from 21 existing tanks; the construction of the liquid waste storage system; conditioning of the wastes and rinses; the transfer of the wastes to the new liquid waste storage system; and the management of the secondary liquid and solid wastes. The proposal will deal with existing wastes only. No new waste arising from ongoing operations on the Chalk River site would be added to the new storage system.

Before the Commission makes its decision on AECL’s application for authorization of its stored liquid waste proposal, a screening 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 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.