Independent Environmental Monitoring Program: Bruce A and B Nuclear Generating Stations
| Site name | Bruce A and B nuclear generating site |
| Licensee | Bruce Power |
| Facility names |
Bruce A Nuclear Generating Station and Bruce B Nuclear Generating Station |
| Facility location | Eastern shore of Lake Huron in Kincardine, Ontario |
| Land acknowledgement | The CNSC acknowledges that the Bruce A and B nuclear generating site is located within the Traditional Territory of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation, and the harvesting areas of the Georgian Bay Métis Nation of Ontario and the Historic Saugeen Métis peoples. |
| Facility description | Bruce Power operates the Bruce A Nuclear Generating Station and Bruce B Nuclear Generating Station, which house a total of 8 CANDU reactors, the Central Maintenance and Laundry Facility, the Central Storage Facility, the Western Waste Management Facility, and Douglas Point Waste Management Facility. |
| Environmental protection requirements | In accordance with regulatory requirements under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act, all licensees must maintain a comprehensive environmental protection program to monitor and control nuclear and hazardous substances released from the facilities they own and operate. As part of every licensee’s environmental protection program, concentrations of contaminants in the environment must be determined and the potential exposure routes to the public must be assessed. |
Our IEMP results from 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, and 2022 are consistent with the results submitted by Bruce Power and Ontario Power Generation, supporting our assessment that the licensee’s environmental protection program is effective. The results add to the body of evidence that people and the environment in the vicinity of the Bruce A and B nuclear generating site are protected, and that there are no anticipated health impacts from the operation of the facilities on the site.
On this page
- Interactive map
- Data table Download Bruce A and B Nuclear Generating Stations CSV (222 KB)
- Overview of the sampling campaign
- Results: (2022) (2019) (2016, 2015, 2013)
- Indigenous Nations and communities’ participation
- Focus on health
- Conclusions
Legend
Bruce A and B nuclear generating site
1 The < symbol indicates that a result is below the provided laboratory analytical detection limit.
2 N/A – not available.
3 For radiological parameters (expressed as Bq/L, Bq/kg or Bq/m3) where no federal or provincial guidelines exist, our screening levels were established based on conservative assumptions using CSA standard N288.1-14, Guidelines for Calculating Derived Release Limits for Radioactive Material in Airborne and Liquid Effluents for Normal Operation of Nuclear Facilities. The screening level for a particular radionuclide in a particular medium (e.g., water, air, food) represents the activity concentration that would result in a dose of 0.1 millisieverts per year (mSv/year), a dose at which no impacts on human health are expected. For more information, please refer to the IEMP technical information sheet.
4 Tritiated water (HTO) is a radioactive form of water where the usual hydrogen atoms in water (H2O) are replaced with tritium. Elemental tritium (HT) refers to the radioactive form of hydrogen gas. Organically bound tritium (OBT) is tritium that is bound to an organic molecule, such as a carbohydrate, fat, or protein.
5 For water samples, the results for non-radiological parameters are compared to Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life. Where no CCME guidelines exist, Health Canada’s Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality are used.
Background
Under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act (NSCA), licensees of nuclear facilities are required to implement an environmental monitoring program to demonstrate that the public and the environment are protected from emissions related to the facility’s nuclear activities. The results of these monitoring programs are submitted to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), ensuring compliance with the applicable guidelines and limits set out in the regulations that oversee Canada’s nuclear industry.
The CNSC has implemented its IEMP to verify that the public and the environment around licensed nuclear facilities are protected. It is separate from, but complementary to, the CNSC’s ongoing compliance verification program. The IEMP involves taking samples from publicly accessible areas around the facilities, and measuring and analyzing the amount of radioactive and hazardous substances in those samples. CNSC staff collect the samples and send them to the CNSC’s state-of-the-art laboratory for testing and analysis. Since the implementation of the IEMP, the area outside of the BNGS perimeter was sampled in 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2019.
2022 results
The 2022 IEMP sampling plan for the Bruce A and B nuclear generating site focused on radioactive and hazardous substances. A site-specific sampling plan was developed based on the licensee’s approved environmental monitoring program and our regulatory experience with the site. We endeavour to incorporate traditional Indigenous land use, values and knowledge by engaging with Indigenous Nations and communities on the sampling plan. More information on this engagement is provided in the “Indigenous Nations and communities’ participation” section.
In July 2022, we collected air, water, soil, sand, sediment, vegetation, and food samples in publicly accessible areas outside the facility perimeter.
The levels of radioactivity and hazardous substances measured in air, water, soil, sediment, vegetation, food were below available guidelines and our own screening levels. Our screening levels are based on conservative assumptions about the exposure that would result in a dose of 0.1 mSv/yr (one-tenth of the regulatory public dose limit of 1 mSv/yr). Measurements conducted by the IEMP to date have consistently found levels of radioactivity in the environment to be low, and well within the range of natural background radiation levels. As a result, no effects on human health are expected.
2019 results
The 2019 IEMP sampling plan for the BNGS focused on nuclear and hazardous contaminants. A site-specific sampling plan was developed based on Bruce Power’s approved environmental monitoring program and the CNSC’s regulatory experience with the site. The Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO), Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) and Historic Saugeen Métis (HSM) also collaborated with the CNSC by providing valuable information about locations and species of interest for sampling, and by participating in the collection of samples. It is a priority for the CNSC to ensure that IEMP sampling reflects traditional Indigenous land use, values and knowledge, where possible, so that our IEMP results are meaningful to the communities. CNSC staff have shared the 2019 report with these communities and will discuss the results with them in the near future.
In 2019, samples were collected in publicly accessible areas outside the BNGS site perimeter and included samples of air, water, soil, sediment, vegetation and food, such as meat and produce from local farms. View detailed sampling data.
The radioactivity measured in air, water, sediment, soil and vegetation samples, as well as in samples of meat, fish, milk and produce was below guidelines and CNSC screening levels. These results are similar to the findings in 2013, 2015 and 2016. CNSC screening levels are based on conservative assumptions about the exposure that would result in a dose of 0.1 mSv/year. No health impacts are expected at this dose level.
The levels of hazardous (non-radiological) contaminants measured in water and sediment were below applicable guidelines. All samples were within the range of licensees’ data based on their recent environmental risk assessments, and below the toxicity data available, indicating that potential effects to the environment are low.
2013, 2015 and 2016 results
The 2013, 2015 and 2016 IEMP sampling plans for the BNGS focused on nuclear contaminants. Site-specific sampling plans were developed based on Bruce Power’s approved environmental monitoring program and the CNSC’s regulatory experience with the site. In all three years, samples were collected in publicly accessible areas outside the BNGS perimeter and included air samples, lake water, soil and sediment, vegetation and food, such as meat and produce from local farms. View detailed sampling data.
The radioactivity measured in air, water, sediment, soil and vegetation samples, as well as in samples of meat and produce was below available guidelines and CNSC reference levels. These results are consistently similar across all three years. CNSC reference levels are based on conservative assumptions about the exposure that would result in a dose of 0.1 mSv/year. No health impacts are expected at this dose level.
Indigenous Nations and communities’ participation
We have made it a priority to ensure that IEMP sampling reflects Indigenous traditional knowledge, land use and values where possible. In addition to routine IEMP sampling activities, we seek input from local Indigenous Nations and communities on our IEMP sampling plans.
In advance of the 2022 IEMP sampling campaign around the Bruce A and B nuclear generating site, notification emails were sent to Indigenous Nations and communities near the facility to notify them of the sampling campaign and to seek input on the sampling plan. We invited suggestions for species of interest, valued components, and potential sampling locations where traditional practices and activities may take place.
As a continuation of the IEMP work completed during 2019 at the Bruce A and B nuclear generating site, vegetation was again sampled at the same locations. Species included plantain, eastern white cedar, cattails (roots and leaves/flowers), and balsam fir. Milkweed and creeping juniper were also added to the sample plan for 2022, at the request of the SON.
Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO)
In addition to reviewing the sampling plan, representatives from the MNO joined the IEMP sampling team and helped CNSC staff identify and obtain samples. They also observed sampling of air, water and sediment and learned about packaging and chain of custody procedures.
Historic Saugeen Métis (HSM)
In addition to reviewing the sampling plan, a representative from the Historic Saugeen Métis (HSM) joined the IEMP sampling team in the field to participate in sampling of cedar in the local community. They also learned about packaging and chain-of-custody procedures, and were provided an explanation of the air sampling equipment and procedures.
Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON)
In addition to reviewing the sampling plan, representatives from the Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) joined the IEMP sampling team in the field for sampling in Nawash (Neyaashiinigmiing). In addition to air, soil and vegetation, plantain, cedar, cattails, milkweed, and juniper were identified and sampled together. Similar samples were also taken in Saugeen, and we also sampled water, sediment and food at the Bruce site. SON community members also provided samples of whitefish and trout from Lake Huron. Community outreach sessions were planned for Nawash and Saugeen, but unfortunately were cancelled due to bad weather.
We would like to thank the HSM, SON and MNO for their participation and collaboration.
We will continue to engage with interested Indigenous Nations and communities to ensure that IEMP sampling incorporates Indigenous knowledge in future sampling.
Focus on health
To verify that the health of people living near the Bruce A and B nuclear generating site is protected, CNSC staff review the results of existing public health reports and international publications. At times, they also conduct their own health studies to provide further independent verification of this.
The Grey Bruce Health Unit monitors the health of populations around the Bruce A and B nuclear generating site. The health unit documents disease rates and compares them to other similar populations’ (or larger reference populations) to detect any potential health outcomes that may be of concern. The leading causes of death in Grey Bruce are cardiovascular disease, cancer and unintentional injury. Similar to the population of Ontario, the cancer burden in Grey Bruce is primarily lung and bronchial cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer. Generally speaking, in 2016–18, incidence rates for lung and bronchial cancer and colorectal were significantly higher in Grey Bruce than the Ontario average. Based on the Grey Bruce Health Unit data, lifestyle factors like alcohol consumption and smoking influence the prevalence of cancer, both of which are higher in the Grey Bruce area than the Ontario average.
In 2013, the CNSC conducted a large ecological study to look at radiation exposure and the incidence of cancer around Ontario nuclear generating sites, including the Bruce A and B nuclear generating site. This study concluded that doses to the public were well below levels of natural background radiation and that people who live near nuclear generating sites are as healthy as the rest of Ontario’s general population. Members of the public can freely access the CNSC’s library of health studies and third-party research.
Health status data for Indigenous people are not reported separately by the Grey Bruce Health Unit. However, resources for Indigenous youth and families are provided, and they are committed to working with the Indigenous Health Council.
Based on current radiation exposure levels, relevant local health data, CNSC staff have not observed and do not expect any adverse health outcomes related to the presence of the Bruce A and B nuclear generating site. Access the CNSC’s library of health studies and third-party research.
If you would like more general health information and data for your community or province, please visit the following websites:
https://www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca/healthstats/Our-Health/Chronic-Diseases
https://www.cancercareontario.ca/en/statistical-reports
https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/data-and-analysis/commonly-used-products/snapshots
Conclusions
Our IEMP results from 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2022 are consistent with the results submitted by Bruce Power, supporting our assessment that the licensee’s environmental protection program is effective. The results add to the body of evidence that people and the environment in the vicinity of the Bruce A and B nuclear generating site are protected and that there are no anticipated health impacts from the operation of the facilities on the site.
Page details
- Date modified: