Independent Environmental Monitoring Program: Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Site
| Facility name | Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Site |
|---|---|
| Licensee | New Brunswick Power Corporation (NB Power) |
| Facility names | Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station and Solid Radioactive Waste Management Facility |
| Facility location | The site is located on the Lepreau Peninsula, on the northern shore of the Bay of Fundy, 40 km southwest of Saint John, NB. |
| Land acknowledgement | The CNSC acknowledges that the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Site is located within the territory covered by the Peace and Friendship Treaties with the Maliseet, Passamaquoddy and Mi’gmaq peoples. |
| Facility description | NB Power operates one 705 megawatt CANDU reactor and the Solid Radioactive 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 Independent Environmental Monitoring Program (IEMP) results from 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2020/2021 are consistent with the results submitted by NB 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 Point Lepreau nuclear generating site are protected and that there are no anticipated health impacts from the operation of the nuclear generating site.
- Interactive map
- Data table (Download CSV - 66.2 KB)
- (2020/2021) (2017) (2016, 2015 and 2014)
- Video: Introduction to the IEMP
- Frequently asked questions
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Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Site
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Results Table
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 mSv/year (millisieverts per 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.
CNSC staff and a WNNB representative taking vegetation samples near the Point Lepreau site, 2021.
CNSC staff and a MTI representative taking clam samples near the Point Lepreau site, 2021.
2020/2021 results
While some samples were collected as planned in 2020, other planned sampling from 2020 had to be completed in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This campaign will therefore be referred to as “2020/2021”.
The 2020/2021 IEMP sampling plan for the Point Lepreau nuclear generating site focused on nuclear contaminants. A site-specific sampling plan was developed based on the licensee’s approved environmental monitoring program and our regulatory experience with the site. We endeavor 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 2020, we collected water, soil, sand, vegetation, and local food samples. In 2021, we collected traditional First Nation foods and plants, as well as air samples. All samples were collected in publicly accessible areas outside the Point Lepreau nuclear generating site.
The levels of radioactivity measured in samples were compared against 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/year (one-tenth of the regulatory public dose limit of 1 mSv/year). As many of the foods and plants of interest to Indigenous Nations and communities are not regularly assessed by us or by other federal or provincial bodies for radioactivity, there are no established guidelines or screening levels for these samples. In this case, the CNSC collected the same species from an area upstream and upwind that is not impacted by the operations of the Point Lepreau nuclear generating site to use as reference samples Footnote 1.
Results of the 2020/2021 IEMP sampling campaign around the Point Lepreau nuclear generating site show that the levels of radioactivity measured in samples were below available guidelines and our screening levels. For samples where no guidelines or screening levels exist, results were compared to reference1 samples. 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.
2017 Results
CNSC staff taking vegetation samples near the Point Lepreau site, 2017.
CNSC staff taking sediment samples near the Point Lepreau site, 2017.
The 2017 IEMP sampling plan for the Point Lepreau nuclear generating site focused on nuclear contaminants. A site-specific sampling plan was developed based on NB Power’s approved environmental monitoring program and our regulatory experience with the site. In 2017, samples were collected in publicly accessible areas outside the site perimeter and included surface and well water, soil and sediment, air particulates, vegetation, and food such as fish and shellfish and produce from local farms outside of the site perimeter fence. View detailed sampling data.
The measured radioactivity in all the samples with detectable radionuclide concentrations were below our screening levels. There was one water sample in Duck Cove that showed a slight increase in tritium over other years sampled. However, the result of 100.7 Bq/L is in the numerical range of other water samples in close proximity, as reported in NB Power’s annual compliance reports, and well below the 7,000 Bq/L guideline for tritium in drinking water. Our staff will continue to monitor this location in future IEMP sampling. The screening levels are based on conservative assumptions about the exposure that would result in a dose of 0.1 mSv/year, which represents one tenth of our public dose limit of 1 mSv/year. No health or environmental impacts are expected at these levels.
2016, 2015 and 2014 results
The 2016, 2015, and 2014 IEMP sampling plan for the site focused on nuclear contaminants. A site-specific sampling plan was developed based on NB Power’s approved environmental monitoring program, CSA Group standards and our regulatory experience with the site. Samples were collected in publicly accessible areas outside of the Point Lepreau nuclear generating site perimeter and included water, soil, sediment, air, vegetation, and food. View detailed sampling data.
The measured radioactivity in all the samples with detectable radionuclide concentrations was below our screening levels. Our screening levels are based on conservative assumptions about the exposure that would result in a dose of 0.1 mSv/year, which represents one tenth of our public dose limit of 1 mSv/year. No health or environmental impacts are expected at these levels.
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.
For the 2020/2021 IEMP campaign, we collaborated with 2 Indigenous representative organizations: the Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick and Mi’gmawe’l Tplu’taqnn Incorporated. Samples of traditional foods and plants were incorporated into the sampling plan to ensure meaningful results were obtained.
Focus on health
We review the results of existing scientific evidence and conduct health studies to provide further independent verification that the health of people living near the Point Lepreau nuclear generating site is protected.
A recent and comprehensive CNSC study on the health of people living near nuclear power plants found that all cancers for all age groups, in individuals living near these facilities, were similar to the reference population. In particular, there was no evidence of increases of childhood leukemia. These findings are consistent with research studies conducted around nuclear power plants in other countries (i.e. the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland and Finland). The body of evidence demonstrates that people who live near nuclear power plants, such as the Point Lepreau nuclear generating site, are as healthy as the rest of the general Canadian population.
Based on exposure and health data, we have not observed and do not expect any adverse health outcomes due to the presence of the Point Lepreau nuclear generating site. Access our library of health studies and third-party research.
More general health information and data for the communities near the Point Lepreau nuclear generating site can be found on the following websites:
Horizon Health Network
Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health
NBHC | New Brunswick Health Council
Conclusions
Our IEMP results from 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2020/2021 are consistent with the results submitted by NB 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 Point Lepreau nuclear generating site are protected and that there are no anticipated health impacts.
Footnotes
- Footnote 1
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The reference samples are taken in a location where there is likely no potential for exposure from the operations of the nuclear facility. The reference location is chosen based on distance from the operation, on meteorological data such as predominant wind direction or precipitation (for atmospheric releases) and water current (for effluent discharges). This allows us to collect local data that is representative of the region around the facility. This data is then compared with sampling results. This is especially important when background data, guidelines or screening levels do not exist for a certain contaminant or medium in a certain region.
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