Eighth Canadian National Report for the Joint Convention

Executive Summary

Introduction

Canada’s Eighth National Report demonstrates how Canada continued to meet its obligations under the articles of the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management during the reporting period, from April 1, 2020, to March 31, 2024. This report is a collaboration between the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), other federal government departments, and industry. It focuses specifically on the progress of long-term management initiatives for spent fuel and radioactive wastes in Canada, revisions and updates to Canada’s Seventh National Report, as well as comments and issues outstanding from the Sixth Review Meeting and those raised at the Seventh Review Meeting, which took place in July 2022.

2019 Integrated Regulatory Review Service mission to Canada

In September 2019, the CNSC hosted an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) mission to Canada. The scope of the 2019 mission included all activities and facilities licensed by the CNSC, including the regulation of waste management activities. The 2019 IRRS mission confirmed that the CNSC has a strong regulatory framework and continues to ensure the safe operation of nuclear facilities in Canada.

The CNSC developed an action plan to address the findings of the 2019 IRRS mission. On February 18, 2020, the CNSC publicly shared Canada’s response to each recommendation, suggestion and good practice. These actions show Canada’s commitment to addressing the findings of the mission. A follow-up IRRS mission took place from June 3 to 10, 2024. During this follow-up mission, the international experts assessed Canada’s implementation of the recommendation and suggestion on waste management. For further information, refer to section K.5.1.

One of the 4 recommendations was that Canada enhance its existing radioactive waste policy and establish an associated strategy to give effect to the principles stated in the Canadian Radioactive Waste Policy. This was also highlighted as a suggestion to Canada during the Seventh Review Meeting of the Joint Convention. Refer to section B.1.2 for information on the Government of Canada’s modernized Policy for Radioactive Waste Management and Decommissioning, released in March 2023, that has addressed this recommendation.

Canada’s key highlights and current priorities

The Seventh Review Meeting did not identify any new challenges, Canada continued to make progress on the challenges from the Sixth Review Meeting. Canada proposed that these challenges remain open and be reported on at the Eighth Review Meeting. Since the Seventh Review Meeting, Canada has prioritized making progress on these challenges as highlighted below:

Decommissioning and remediation of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited sites

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), under contract with Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), continues to accelerate decommissioning and remediation activities at AECL sites since the Seventh Review Meeting including:

• environmental assessment and licensing regulatory processes continued for the in situ decommissioning of the Nuclear Power Demonstration (NPD) reactor at Rolphton and in situ decommissioning of Whiteshell Reactor-1 (WR-1) reactor at Whiteshell Laboratories (WL)
• planning and preparation for additional interim storage for low-level waste (LLW) at Chalk River Laboratories (CRL) while awaiting construction and future licensing authorization to start operations of the near surface disposal facility (NSDF)
• ongoing evaluation of intermediate-level waste (ILW) storage requirements, including near- to medium-term capacity needs; CNL has completed the design of a new storage array for remote handled ILW and is making preparations to begin construction
• expansion of storage capacity at CRL for dry storage canisters containing spent fuel in order to accommodate the consolidation of CNL spent fuel at CRL until the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) Adaptive Phased Management (APM) facility becomes available
• confirmation that 4 of the legacy tanks containing stored liquid wastes were empty and the handing over of building B207 for decommissioning
• progress with the Port Hope Area initiative (PHAI) cleanup, including:
  • construction of the final cell of the Port Hope waste management facility (WMF) was completed in 2021
  • continued progress on cleanup activities within the municipality of Port Hope
  • continued remediation at Port Granby including closing and capping the Port Granby engineered containment mound (ECM)

For more information on the decommissioning and remediation of AECL sites, refer to section K.2.1.

For more information on the acceleration of the three projects undergoing environmental assessment (NSDF, and the in situ decommissioning of NPD and WR-1), refer to section K.2.1.3.

For more information regarding the progress of decommissioning and environmental remediation at CRL, refer to annex 8.1.

For information on the progress of decommissioning at WL, refer to annex 8.8. To learn more about the PHAI, refer to section K.2.1.5, as well as annexes 7.2 and 7.2.1.

Long-term management of spent fuel and siting identification of an acceptable site in a willing host community for a spent fuel repository

There has been sustained momentum for implementing the long-term management approach for spent fuel in Canada ever since the NWMO received its 2007 mandate to implement the APM approach approved by the Government of Canada. The process for selecting a site for the APM deep geological repository (DGR) remains ongoing. As of March 2024, two candidate communities remain in the site selection process. Studies and community consultation continue in these areas. First Nation and Métis communities are also involved, as facilitated through a learning agreement with the NWMO. A site selection decision is expected in 2024, following which the APM DGR approach will transition to the process of detailed site characterization and regulatory decision making. For more information, refer to section K.2.2.

Canada’s Integrated Strategy for Radioactive Waste

Canada’s Integrated Strategy for Radioactive Waste (ISRW) was informed by more than two years of engagement with Canadians, Indigenous peoples and waste generators and owners, and was supported by detailed studies of both technical considerations and international best practices. The ISRW lays out two fundamental recommendations; 1) ILW and non-fuel –high-level waste will be disposed of in a deep geological repository with implementation by the NWMO, and 2) LLW will be disposed of in multiple near surface disposal facilities with implementation by waste generators. For more information, refer to section K.2.3.

Overarching issues from the Seventh Review Meeting

During the Seventh Review Meeting, overarching issues that arose from cumulative discussions within the country groups were identified. The Contracting Parties agreed that the following issues would be covered in the National Report, along with the measures taken to address these issues:

• competence and staffing linked to timetable for spent fuel management and radioactive waste management programmes (K.3.1)
• ageing management of packages and facilities for radioactive waste and spent fuel, considering extended storage periods (K.3.2)
• long-term management and disposal of disused sealed radioactive sources including sustainable
• options for regional and multinational solutions (K.3.3)
• inclusive public engagement on radioactive waste management and on spent fuel management programmes (K.3.4)

For details on each item, see section K.3.

Nuclear facilities undergoing decommissioning in Canada

The following nuclear facilities and sites are currently in the process of being decommissioned in Canada:

• Chalk River Laboratories
• Douglas Point Waste Management Facility
• Gentilly-1 Waste Management Facility
• Gentilly-2 Nuclear Generating Station (NGS)
• Gunnar mine site
• Nuclear Power Demonstration
• Whiteshell Laboratories

The Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) Safe Low-Power Critical Experiment 2 (SLOWPOKE-2) in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, was safely decommissioned in 2020, and the site was released for unrestricted use in 2021.

The status of decommissioning activities at these facilities can be found in section D.1.5 and annex 8.

After achieving the objectives for decommissioning, Orano began the process to transfer Cluff Lake to the province of Saskatchewan’s Institutional Control Program (ICP). In 2023, after a public hearing, the CNSC revoked the licence, allowing the project to enter the final stages of transitioning into the province of Saskatchewan’s ICP. This transfer is expected to be completed in 2024.

Conclusion

In Canada, spent fuel and radioactive wastes are currently managed in interim storage facilities that are safe, secure and environmentally sound. Interim storage facilities are continually monitored by the licensees with regulatory oversight by the CNSC to ensure continued fitness for service. Canada recognizes that enhanced, long-term management approaches will be required for its spent fuel and radioactive wastes, and it is making progress on implementing solutions.

Canada’s Eighth National Report for the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management describes several key initiatives that demonstrate Canada’s commitment to identifying and implementing long-term management approaches that do not place an undue burden on future generations.

The full report will be posted on the Open Government Portal soon.