Summary: Regulatory Oversight Report for Canadian Nuclear Power Generating Sites for 2020

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) acknowledges that Canada’s nuclear power generating stations are located on the traditional territories and homelands of many Indigenous Nations and communities and are covered by several treaties.

This regulatory oversight report describes the regulatory oversight and safety performance of nuclear power generating sites, consisting of nuclear power plants (NPPs) and their associated waste management facilities (WMFs) in Canada in 2020. For certain topics, updates on developments in 2021 are also described.

These facilities are covered in this report:

• Darlington Nuclear Generating Station (DNGS), which includes the Tritium Removal Facility and Retube Waste Processing Building
• Darlington Waste Management Facility (DWMF), which includes the Retube Waste Storage Building (RWSB)
• Pickering Nuclear Generating Station (PNGS)
• Pickering Waste Management Facility (PWMF)
• Bruce A Nuclear Generating Station and Bruce B Nuclear Generating Station (BNGS A and B)
• Western Waste Management Facility (WWMF)
• Radioactive Waste Operations Site 1 (RWOS-1)
• Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station (PLNGS), which includes the Solid Radioactive Waste Management Facility (SRWMF)
• Gentilly-2 Facilities

Based on detailed assessments of findings from compliance verification activities for each facility, CNSC staff have concluded that the NPPs and WMFs operated safely in 2020. The conclusion was supported by safety performance measures and other observations including the following:

• The NPP and WMF licensees followed approved procedures and took appropriate corrective action for all events reported to the CNSC.
• NPPs and WMFs operated within the bounds of their operating policies and principles.
• No serious process failures occurred at the NPPs. The number of unplanned transients and trips in the reactors was low and acceptable to CNSC staff. All unplanned transients in the reactors were properly controlled and adequately managed.
• Radiation doses to the public were well below the regulatory limits.
• Radiation doses to workers at the NPPs and WMFs were also below the regulatory limits.
• The frequency and severity of non-radiological injuries to workers were low.
• Radiological releases to the environment from the NPPs and WMFs were below regulatory limits.
• Licensees met the applicable requirements related to Canada’s international obligations; safeguards inspection results were acceptable to the IAEA.

CNSC staff assessments for 2020 concluded that the licensees complied with the applicable regulatory requirements and also met CNSC staff’s expectations for all 14 CNSC safety and control areas (SCAs) at all the NPPs and WMFs.

The full report is available to download on the Open Government Portal.

Regulatory Oversight Report for Canadian Nuclear Power Generating Sites - Regulatory Oversight Report for Canadian Nuclear Power Generating Sites for 2020 - Open Government Portal