Annex 3 - Canadian Nuclear Safety Commision and the Regulatory Process

3.0     Introduction

The Canadian nuclear sector is diverse. From radioisotopes to electricity generation, to radiation devices and non-proliferation of nuclear substances - all are regulated by the CNSC, which replaced the former Atomic Energy Control Board (AECB) with the implementation of the NSCA on May 31, 2000.

3.1     Nuclear Safety and Control Act (NSCA)

A description of this NSCA is provided in Annex 2.

3.2     Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (the CNSC)

The CNSC's regulatory regime covers the entire nuclear substance lifecycle from production, to use, to final disposition of any nuclear substances. Its mandate, derived from the NSCA, is as follows:

• to regulate the development, production and use of nuclear energy and materials to protect the health, safety, security, and environment,
• to regulate production, possession and use of nuclear substances, prescribed equipment, and prescribed information,
• to implement measures respecting international commitments on the peaceful use of nuclear energy and substances, and
• to disseminate scientific, technical and regulatory information concerning the CNSC's activities.

3.3     The CNSC in the government structure

In accordance with the Canadian system of parliamentary government, the decision to introduce government legislation such as the NSCA into Parliament is made by the federal cabinet, on the advice and recommendation of the appropriate minister. The NSCA established the CNSC as a departmental corporation, named in Schedule II of the Government of Canada Financial Administration Act. The CNSC reports to the Parliament of Canada through a member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, designated by the Governor in Council as the minister for purposes of the Act. This designate is currently the Minister of Natural Resources. The CNSC is a departmental corporation, an independent agency and is not part of any government department.

The NSCA requires the Commission Tribunal to comply with any directives of general application on broad policy matters, with respect to the objects of the Commission Tribunal issued by order of the Governor in Council. It is an accepted constitutional convention in Canada that any political directives given to agencies such as the CNSC are general and cannot interfere with Commission Tribunal decisions in specific cases. An example of such a directive might be the government-wide commitment to the SMART Regulation initiative.

The CNSC's personnel routinely interact with management and staff of NRCan in areas of mutual interest. NRCan has a general interest in various matters relating to nuclear energy and natural resources. Further information is provided in Annex 1.1.

In keeping with federal policies on public consultation and regulatory fairness, the CNSC routinely consults with parties and organizations that have an interest in its regulatory activities. These include:

• licensees,
• the nuclear sector,
• federal, provincial, and municipal departments and agencies,
• special interest groups, and
• individual members of the public.

As required by federal policies on access to information and in accordance with Canada's SMART Regulation principles, formal consultations are conducted in an open and transparent manner.

The CNSC licensees include publicly funded institutions or agents of the federal and provincial governments. These include:

• AECL (the federal nuclear research and development company),
• nuclear operations of provincially owned electrical utilities (OPG, New Brunswick Power, and Hydro-Québec),
• Canadian universities, and
• hospitals and research institutions.

The CNSC regulates the health, safety, security, and environmental impacts of the nuclear activities of these organizations in the same manner and according to the same standards as required from privately owned companies or operations.

3.4     Organizational structure

The task of the CNSC is to regulate the use of nuclear energy and materials to protect health, safety, security and the environment and to respect Canada's international commitments on the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The CNSC consists of a president, the federally appointed members of the Commission Tribunal, and approximately 730 staff members as of the end of March 2008. The organization's general structure is defined by the NSCA. The CNSC consists of two components:

• the Commission Tribunal refers to the agency's tribunal component, and
• the CNSC refers to the organization and its staff in general.

The Commission Tribunal
The Commission Tribunal is an independent, quasi-judicial administrative tribunal and court of record. The Commission Tribunal can consist of up to seven members. Commission Tribunal members are appointed by the Governor in Council (Cabinet) of Canada for terms not exceeding five years and may be reappointed. The members are to be independent of all influences, whether political, governmental, special interest or private sector. The President of the CNSC is a full-time Commission Tribunal member. Other members generally serve on a part-time basis.

The Commission Tribunal's key roles are to:

• establish regulatory policy on matters relating to health, safety, security and the environment,
• make legally binding regulations, and
• make independent decisions on the licensing of nuclear-related activities in Canada.

The Commission Tribunal takes into account the views, concerns and opinions of interested parties and intervenors when establishing regulatory policy, making licensing decisions and implementing programs.

The CNSC public hearings are the public's primary opportunity to participate in the regulatory process. The CNSC's personnel attend these hearings to advise the Commission Tribunal. Subsection 17(1) of the NSCA stipulates that the Commission Tribunal can also hire external staff members to advise it independently of the CNSC's personnel, although this is not currently being done.

The Commission Tribunal Secretariat supports the tribunal by planning Commission Tribunal business and offering technical and administrative support to the President and other Commission Tribunal members. It is also the official registrar in relation to Commission Tribunal documentation.

The Commission Tribunal administers the NSCA and its associated regulations. Among these regulations are the CNSC Rules of Procedure, which outline the public hearing process, and the CNSC By-laws, which outline the Commission Tribunal's meeting process.

The CNSC
The CNSC's personnel are primarily located at headquarters in Ottawa. The Uranium Mines and Mills Division is located in Saskatoon, close to Canada's major uranium mining operations. The CNSC satellite offices are located at each of the five nuclear power plants in Canada and at the Chalk River Laboratories (AECL). Regional offices, located in Québec, Ontario and Alberta, conduct compliance activities for nuclear substances, transportation, radiation devices and equipment containing nuclear substances. They also respond to unusual events involving nuclear substances.

The CNSC's personnel support the Commission Tribunal by:

• developing proposals for regulatory development and recommending regulatory policies,
• carrying out licensing, certification, compliance inspections and enforcement actions,
• coordinating the CNSC's international undertakings,
• developing the CNSC-wide programs in support of regulatory effectiveness,
• maintaining relations with stakeholders, and
• providing administrative support to the organization.

In addition, the CNSC personnel prepare recommendations on licensing decisions, present them to the Commission Tribunal for consideration during public hearings and subsequently administer the

Commission Tribunal's decisions. Where so designated, the CNSC's personnel also render licensing decisions.

In terms of organizational structure, the President's Office provides administrative support services to the President. Other groups in the CNSC organizational structure include the Quality Council, the Legal Services Unit and the Office of Audit, Evaluation and Ethics.

There are four major branches of the CNSC personnel: Regulatory Operations, Technical Support, Regulatory Affairs and Corporate Services.

1) Regulatory Operations Branch is responsible for regulation of the development, production and use of nuclear energy. It is also responsible for the production, possession, transport and use of nuclear substances and radiation devices in accordance with the requirements of the NSCA and its associated regulations. The Regulatory Operations Branch is comprised of the Directorate of Power Reactor Regulation, the Directorate of Nuclear Cycle and Facilities Regulation, the Directorate of Nuclear Substance Regulation, the Directorate of Regulatory Improvement and Major Projects Management. These four directorates are responsible for licensees in matters of licensing, compliance and enforcement.

2) Technical Support Branch provides specialist engineering, scientific and technical functions in support of regulatory operations. The TSB is comprised of the Directorate of Assessment and Analysis, the Directorate of Safety Management and Standards, the Directorate of Security and Safeguards and the Directorate of Environmental Assessment and Protection. These four directorates also support the regulatory decision-making of the Regulatory Operations Branch.

3) Regulatory Affairs Branch is responsible for providing strategic direction and implementation of the CNSC's regulatory policy, communications and stakeholder engagement, strategic planning, international relations and Executive Committee services.

4) Corporate Services is responsible for policies and programs related to the management of the CNSC's finances and administration, human resources, information technology and information management.

The CNSC's Research and Support program
The CNSC's Research and Support program is managed within the Technical Service Branch. The program provides staff with access to independent advice: expertise, experience, information and other resources, via contracts or contribution agreements placed with other agencies and organizations in Canada and internationally. The work undertaken through the Research and Support Program is intended to support staff in meeting the CNSC's regulatory mission. Each year, the program is reviewed and evaluated, the need for research and support in the following year is identified and a commensurate budget is allotted. The CNSC Research and Support Program is independent of research and development programs conducted by industry.

3.5     Regulatory philosophy and activities

The CNSC's regulatory philosophy
The CNSC's regulatory philosophy is based on two principles as outlined in the CNSC Regulatory Policy P-299, Regulatory Fundamentals:

• Persons and organizations subject to the NSCA and its associated regulations are directly responsible for ensuring that the regulated activities that they engage in are managed so as to protect health, safety, security, and the environment and to respect Canada's international commitments on the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
• the CNSC is responsible to the public for regulating persons and organizations subject to the NSCA and its associated regulations, to assure that they are properly discharging their obligations.

The CNSC establishes a strategic framework, which encompasses the following outcome areas:

1. a clear and pragmatic regulatory framework,
2. individuals and organizations that operate safely and conform to safeguards and non-proliferation requirements,
3. high levels of compliance with the regulatory framework,
4. the CNSC cooperates and integrates its activities in national/international nuclear programs, and
5. stakeholders' understanding of the regulatory program.

The following activities are to achieve the above outcomes:

1. Regulatory Framework,
2. Licensing and Certification,
3. Compliance,
4. Cooperative Undertakings, both domestically and internationally, and
5. Stakeholder Relations.

The CNSC establishes and requires compliance with regulatory requirements, makes independent objective decisions based on regulatory action on the level of risk and seeks public input.

In carrying out its responsibilities, the CNSC issues licenses (after assessing whether regulatory requirements and international obligations are met), verifies compliance with the licenses that have been issued, sets standards for meeting regulatory requirements and communicates the work of the CNSC to its licensees and other stakeholders.

3.6     Regulatory framework

The CNSC's mandate, regulatory responsibilities and powers are set out in:

• The Nuclear Safety and Control Act (NSCA),
• The Safeguards Agreement and Additional Protocol between Canada and the IAEA, and
• Canada's bilateral and multilateral nuclear cooperation agreements.

The CNSC also conducts environmental assessments under the CEA Act and administers the NLA.

To carry out these responsibilities, the CNSC uses the following regulatory tools:

• regulations,
• licenses, with licence conditions, and
• regulatory documents that provide guidance to the CNSC licensees on meeting criteria set out in the regulations.

In line with the Cabinet Directive on Streamlining Regulation, the CNSC took steps to enhance stakeholder consultation by holding information sessions on key regulatory documents, posting public comments related to key documents on its Web site and initiating an online public input form. Also in line with this directive, the CNSC is continuing to adopt or adapt national and international standards in regulatory documents.

3.6.1     The CNSC's regulatory documents

Regulatory documents support the CNSC's regulatory framework by expanding on expectations set out in the NSCA, its associated Regulations and legal instruments such as licences and orders. These documents provide instruction, assistance and information to the licensees.

Additional information on the CNSC's regulatory documents program is available at nuclearsafety.gc.ca on the CNSC Web site.

Table A - Regulatory documents published by the CNSC

Document Number	Document Title	Date of Publication
Current Reporting Period
RD-360	Life Extension of Nuclear Power Plants	February 2008
RD-310	Safety Analysis for Nuclear Power Plants	February 2008
RD-204	Certification of Persons Working at Nuclear Power Plants	February 2008
G-323	Ensuring the Presence of Sufficient Qualified Staff at Class I Nuclear Facilities - Minimum Staff Complement	August 2007
S-210	Maintenance Programs for Nuclear Power Plants	July 2007
G-320	Assessing the Long-Term Safety of Radioactive Waste Management	December 2006
G-313	Radiation Safety Training Programs for Workers Involved in Licensed Activities with Nuclear Substances and Radiation Devices, and with Class II Nuclear Facilities and Prescribed Equipment	July 2006
G-144	Trip Parameter Acceptance Criteria for the Safety Analysis of CANDU Nuclear Power Plants	May 2006
G-306	Severe Accident Management Programs for Nuclear Reactors	May 2006
P-325	Nuclear Emergency Management	May 2006
S-106 rev 1	Technical and Quality Assurance Requirements for Dosimetry Services	May 2006
S-296	Environmental Protection Policies, Programs and Procedures at Class I Nuclear Facilities and Uranium Mines and Mills	March 2006
G-296	Developing Environmental Protection Policies, Programs and Procedures at Class I Nuclear Facilities and Uranium Mines and Mills	March 2006
S-98 rev 1	Reliability Programs for Nuclear Power Plants	July 2005
S-294	Probabilistic Safety Assessment (PSA) for Nuclear Power Plants	April 2005
P-299	Regulatory Fundamentals	April 2005
Earlier Publications
S-260	Making Changes to Dose-Related Information Filed with the National Dose Registry	October 2004
G-129 rev 1	Keeping Radiation Exposures and Doses “As Low as Reasonably Achievable (ALARA)”	October 2004
P-290	Managing Radioactive Waste	July 2004
G-229	Certification of Exposure Device Operators	March 2004
G-217	Licensee Public Information Programs	January 2004
G-205	Entry to Protected and Inner Areas	November 2003
G-218	Preparing Codes of Practice to Control Radiation Doses at Uranium Mines and Mills	November 2003
G-4	Measuring Airborne Radon Progeny at Uranium Mines and Mills	June 2003
G-91	Ascertaining and Recording Radiation Doses to Individuals	June 2003
G-278	Human Factors Verification and Validation Plans	June 2003
G-276	Human Factors Engineering Program Plans	June 2003
G-221	A Guide to Ventilation Requirements for Uranium Mines and Mills	June 2003
G-147	Radiobioassay Protocols for Responding to Abnormal Intakes of Radionuclides	June 2003
G-273	Making, Reviewing and Receiving Orders under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act	May 2003
G-274	Security Programs for Category I or II Nuclear Material or Certain Nuclear Facilities	March 2003
G-208	Transportation Security Plans for Category I, II or III Nuclear Material	March 2003
S-99	Reporting Requirements for Operating Nuclear Power Plants	March 2003
G-225	Emergency Planning at Class I Nuclear Facilities and Uranium Mines and Mills	August 2001
P-211	Compliance	May 2001
G-228	Developing and Using Action Levels	March 2001
P-223	Protection of the Environment	February 2001
P-242	Considering Cost-benefit Information	October 2000
P-119	Policy on Human Factors	October 2000
G-149	Computer Programs Used in Design and Safety Analyses of Nuclear Power Plants and Research Reactors	October 2000
G-219	Decommissioning Planning for Licensed Activities	June 2000
G-206	Financial Guarantees for the Decommissioning of Licensed Activities	June 2000
G-121	Radiation Safety in Educational, Medical and Research Institutions	May 2000
S-106	Technical and Quality Assurance Standards for Dosimetry Services in Canada	March 1998
R-117	Requirements for Gamma Radiation Survey Meter Calibration	January 1995
R-116	Requirements for Leak Testing Selected Sealed Radiation Sources	January 1995
R-52 rev 1	Design Guide for Basic and Intermediate Level Radioisotope Laboratories	June 1991
R-9	Requirements for Emergency Core Cooling Systems for CANDU Nuclear Power Plants	February 1991
R-8	Requirements for Shutdown Systems for CANDU Nuclear Power Plants	February 1991
R-7	Requirements for Containment Systems for CANDU Nuclear Power Plants	February 1991
R-85	Radiation Protection Requisites for the Exemption of Certain Radioactive Materials from Further Licensing Upon Transferral for Disposal	August 1989
R-105	The Determination of Radiation Doses from the Intake of Tritium Gas	October 1988
R-89	The Preparation of Reports of a Significant Event at a Uranium Processing or Uranium Handling Facility	August 1988
R-77	Overpressure Protection Requirements for Primary Heat Transport Systems in CANDU Power Reactors Fitted with Two Shutdown Systems	October 1987
R-72	Geologic Considerations in Siting a Repository for Underground Disposal of High-Level Radioactive Waste	September 1987
R-100	The Determination of Effective Doses from the Intake of Tritiated Water	August 1987
R-26	Preparation of a Quarterly Health Physics Compliance Report for a Uranium Fuel Fabrication Plant	September 1985
R-71	Deep Geologic Disposal of Nuclear Fuel Waste: Background Information and Regulatory Requirements Regarding the Concept Assessment Phase	January 1985
R-27	Preparation of an Annual Compliance Report for a Uranium Fuel Fabrication Plant	October 1984
R-25	Preparation of a Quarterly Report on the Operation of a Uranium Refinery or Uranium Chemical Conversion Facility	July 1984
R-58	Bioassay Requirements for I-125 and I-131 in Medical, Teaching and Research Institutions	September 1983
R-10	The Use of Two Shutdown Systems in Reactors	January 1977

The draft regulatory documents listed in Table B have been issued for external stakeholder comment. The comment period is now closed and these drafts are under revision, incorporating the comments received during consultation.

Table B - Draft regulatory documents

Document Number	Document Title	Issued for Public Consultation
Current Reporting Period
RD-58	Thyroid Screening Programs for Volatile Radioiodine (formerly G-58)	October 2005
RD-337	Design Requirements for New Nuclear Power Plants	October 2007
RD-346	Site Evaluation for New Nuclear Power Plants	October 2007
RD-353	Testing the Implementation of Emergency Measures (formerly G-353)	April 2007
RD-314	Implementation of Radiation Protection Programs by Consignors, Carriers, and Consignees of Nuclear Substances (formerly G-314)	March 2004
RD-341	Control of the Export and Import of Risk-Significant Sealed Sources (formerly G-341)	February 2007
RD-363	Nuclear Security Officer Medical, Physical, and Psychological Fitness (formerly S-340)	February 2007
RD-336	the CNSC Safeguards and Nuclear Non- Proliferation Reporting Requirements (formerly S-336)	September 2006
RD-308	Safety Analysis for Non-Power Reactors (formerly S-308)	September 2006
RD-338	Physical Security Requirements for Sealed Sources during Transport (formerly S-338)	November 2006

3.7     Licensing process

The CNSC licenses about 3,500 operations across Canada, including uranium mines, fuel fabrication facilities, radioisotope production, waste management facilities, nuclear power plants in Ontario, Québec and New Brunswick, and AECL facilities in Chalk River, Ontario and Whiteshell, Manitoba. Information about the CNSC's licensing process is available at nuclearsafety.gc.ca.

There are several types of licenses issued. A facility (Class I, II, uranium mines or mills) is licensed during its life cycle. Licenses are required for site preparation, construction, operations, decommissioning and abandonment. An application for a licence, renewal or amendment may trigger other legislation and regulations. For example, an EA under the CEA Act may be a prerequisite to proceeding with a licence application. The CEA Act may require an EA of a project to analyze potential environmental impacts and their severity, possible mitigation measures and any residual impacts. Both the physical and socio-economic environments must be considered in the EA. The range of stakeholder consultations is determined by the severity of the potential environmental impacts.

In addition, the CNSC also licenses the import and export of controlled nuclear substances, equipment, information and nuclear related dual-use items. Proposed imports and exports are evaluated by the CNSC personnel to ensure compliance with Canada's nuclear non-proliferation and export policies, international agreements related to safeguards, health, safety and security, as well as the NSCA and its associated regulations.

3.8     Licensing hearings

The NSCA establishes a legislative requirement for the Commission Tribunal to hold public hearings, with respect to exercising its power to license. NSCA also requires that applicants, licensees and anyone named in or subject to an order must have the opportunity to be heard. Accordingly, the CNSC Rules of Procedure set out the requirements for notification of public hearings and publication of decisions from public hearings, as described earlier. A communication policy was recently developed relating to the CNSC's interactions with internal and external stakeholders.

The Commission Tribunal considers applications in public hearings, which are usually two days in duration for each applicant or licensee. The first day is reserved to hear the application and the CNSC personnel recommendations. The second day is reserved to entertain interventions and is typically held 60 days after the first day to permit stakeholders time to review the application and recommendations.

See the following public hearing process chart for timelines:

Hearing Day One - A Notice of Public Hearing is published 60 days prior to the hearing date. Applicants and the CNSC personnel file the documentation they intend to present at the hearing at least 30 days prior to the hearing. All documents filed by the applicant and staff become public record and are distributed as required (e.g., submissions by staff are provided to the applicant and to any other person who requests them).

Additional information the applicant or staff wishes to provide to the tribunal is filed seven days in advance of the hearing. During the hearing, applicants present the information on their application and the CNSC personnel presents their comments and recommendations to the Commission Tribunal. Commission Tribunal members question both CNSC personnel and the applicant regarding the information on the record. No decision is made during the first day of the hearing.

Prior to Hearing Day Two - Anyone wishing to take part in the process can file a request to intervene at least 30 days prior to Hearing Day Two. Documents received from interveners become public record and are sent to the applicant and staff for review. Supplementary information must be filed seven days prior to the hearing.

Hearing Day Two - As appropriate, the applicant and the CNSC personnel presents additional information to the tribunal. Members of the public that have been granted the status of intervener may attend in person to make their presentations or have their written submissions considered in a public forum. Commission Tribunal members can pose questions to the applicant, the CNSC personnel and any interveners present regarding the submissions made. Participants at the hearing may question each other through the presiding members.

Commission Decisions - After Hearing Day Two, the tribunal deliberates in camera about the application and all information submitted during the public hearing to reach a decision. Typically, six weeks following the hearing, a notice of decision and a Record of Proceedings, including Reasons for Decision are sent to all participants and published on the CNSC Web site (nuclearsafety.gc.ca). Transcripts of the hearing are also posted on the CNSC Web site in the weeks following the Hearing Day One and Hearing Day Two.

3.9     Compliance

Administering licensing decisions of the tribunal entails a planned and continuous oversight. Whether based on- or off-site, the CNSC personnel work on a daily basis to carry out regular inspections, audits and reviews to provide a comprehensive overall and day-to-day picture of operations. This process ensures that the operations are safe and in compliance with the licence as described in section E.6.1.

 

3.9.1     The CNSC Compliance Program

Confirmation of compliance with licenses is managed within the CNSC Compliance Program (CCP). CCP is a formal compliance verification program that includes promotion, verification and enforcement. These elements of the program are described in Section E.6.1.

3.10     Cooperative undertakings

The CNSC works cooperatively with a number of other national and international organizations. At the national level, the CNSC's mandate is clearly outlined by the NSCA, which specifies that nuclear regulatory activities are a federal responsibility. However, there are areas where other federal and provincial departments have legislated parallel or complementary responsibilities. They include security, emergency preparedness and mining.

In addition, to fulfill Canada's international obligations, the CNSC collaborates with various agencies (such as its counterparts in other countries and Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada) to ensure that nuclear cooperation is conducted consistently with international agreements and especially with the non-proliferation regime.

Also at the international level, the CNSC's cooperation and involvement in international nuclear organizations includes the IAEA and the Nuclear Energy Agency of the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The CNSC's role is to promote Canadian interests and evaluate international recommendations, standards and guides for adoption in the CNSC's regulatory framework.

3.11     The CNSC Outreach Program

The CNSC recognizes open, transparent and timely communications as being central to the work and management of Canada's nuclear regulatory regime. Open and proactive communications ensure that stakeholders receive information and that their views and concerns are taken into account in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of the CNSC policies, programs, services and initiatives.

The CNSC strives to operate with a high level of transparency in all of its activities. These efforts involve engaging stakeholders through a variety of appropriate consultation processes, effective information sharing and communications. In 2003, the CNSC Executive Committee approved the CNSC Outreach Program Framework. The Framework provides a detailed description of the need for an Outreach Program and the steps that are taken to implement it successfully.

The CNSC's Outreach Program:

• provides the context and framework for outreach activities,
• provides tools and materials for existing and new activities,
• sets targeted, measurable outcomes,
• tracks and continuously seeks to improve the CNSC's performance in doing outreach,
• identifies opportunities for new activities, and
• provides the structure and necessary resources to support additional the CNSC personnel to carry out related activities.

The CNSC uses outreach to communicate scientific, technical and regulatory information to stakeholders concerning the activities of the CNSC and the effects of the uses of nuclear energy and materials on health, security and the environment.

3.11.1.1     Framework for the CNSC's Outreach Program

The CNSC will use outreach to communicate information to stakeholders, consult with stakeholders and be aware of issues and concerns stakeholders have that relate to the CNSC as Canadian nuclear regulator or its regulatory regime.

3.11.1.2     Stakeholders

• In implementing its Outreach Program, the CNSC must address two sub-groups of stakeholders within the general stakeholder population.
• Key stakeholders are individuals or groups with whom the CNSC regularly or periodically interacts. They have at least a general knowledge of the CNSC and its roles and responsibilities. These groups include municipalities and residents near key facilities, licensees, non-government organizations, industry associations and all levels of government.
• General stakeholders are individuals or groups from the Canadian public in whose interest the CNSC regulates the Canadian nuclear sector but who are largely unaware of the CNSC and its roles and responsibilities.

3.11.1.3     Definition of outreach

The following definition of outreach was developed to apply to both sub-groups of stakeholders:

• “Outreach is a coordinated approach to increasing levels of communication with stakeholders on issues or information of mutual interest, listening to the views received, and acting where appropriate. It includes activities that are over and above licensing and compliance activities required by the NSCA and its associated regulations.”

Outreach activity
An outreach activity is an activity that conveys information to or receives information from stakeholders (communication), or actively solicits input from stakeholders (consultation). For the purposes of the CNSC, outreach activities do not include mandated licensing and compliance activities but include:

• meetings with municipal officials and community groups,
• interactions with the public,
• public hearings of the tribunal, particularly when they are held in a local community,
• meetings with licensees on non-licence specific issues (e.g., quarterly meetings with CAN and CRAG meetings),
• presentations by the president and executives at various seminars and meetings of stakeholders,
• benchmarking and other exercises with other regulators,
• participation in international and national conferences and events,
• proactive media relations events, and
• consultations on environmental assessments.

Since the last reporting period, the CNSC's personnel have conducted approximately 119 outreach activities. It is possible that some activities have gone unreported. For example, the CNSC personnel met with the mayor of Elliot Lake to provide a presentation on Cluff Lake decommissioning and the CNSC outreach initiatives from an Aboriginal perspective. In addition, the CNSC's personnel participate in bimonthly teleconferences with stakeholders interested in the long-term management of uranium mine and mill tailings, and inactive uranium mine sites. Finally, the CNSC's personnel hosted a member from the Brazilian Nuclear Energy Commission (CNEN) for two weeks to learn about the regulatory process for radioactive wastes and decommissioning. The mission was sponsored by the IAEA.

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