Ontario Power Generation's Deep Geologic Repository
The Impact Assessment Act (IAA) came into force August 28, 2019. Ongoing projects with environmental assessments initiated under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA 2012) and led by the CNSC, will continue under their current processes. The IAA contains provisions to enable these projects to advance in this way.
Location: Tiverton, (Municipality of Kincardine) ON
In May 2020, Ontario Power Generation (OPG) formally withdrew its application to the CNSC for a licence to prepare a site for and construct its Deep Geologic Repository (DGR) for low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste at the Bruce nuclear site. No further work will proceed on the project.
The CNSC will apply its research and the lessons learned from the work completed to date on the OPG DGR project to any future applications for low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste disposal.
Latest news
Note: The following are highlights only. For a complete list of documents related to the joint review panel for this project, please consult the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada’s Registry, reference number 06-05-17520.
2020
- May 27, 2020: Ontario Power Generation letter to the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change (PDF, 5 pages, 930 KB)
- May 27, 2020: Ontario Power Generation letter to the CNSC to withdraw their Application for the Site Preparation and Construction Licence for a Deep Geologic Repository for Low and Intermediate Level Waste (PDF, 2 pages, 543 KB)
- January 31, 2020: Saugeen Ojibway Nation ratification vote – 2020 official count declaration Letter from Minister Wilkinson’s office accepting OPG’s request for termination of the environmental assessment
Resources
Environmental assessment and site preparation
| Project milestone | Responsibility and status | Date | Comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CNSC and other federal authorities | Applicant | |||
| Ontario Power Generation submits a letter regarding changes to federal legislation and implications for the Deep Geologic Repository for Low and Intermediate Level Radioactive Waste Project | Completed by Ontario Power Generation (OPG) |
August 2019 |
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OPG submits a letter of intent to apply for a licence to prepare site and construct with a DGR project description (PDF) Read application for licence to prepare site and construct (August 2007) (PDF) |
Completed by Ontario Power Generation (OPG) |
December 2005 |
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| Notice of environmental assessment (EA) posted |
Completed by CNSC |
January 2006 |
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| Federal Minister of Environment refers EA to a joint review panel (JRP) |
Completed by the Minister of Environment |
June 2007 |
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| Draft environmental impact statement (EIS) guidelines and JRP agreement published for comments |
Completed by the CNSC/CEAA |
April 2008 |
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| Comment period on draft environmental impact statement guidelines and JRP agreement | Completed by the CNSC |
April to June 2008 |
Opportunity for the public, Aboriginal groups and other stakeholders to review and provide comments. |
|
| Final EIS guidelines and JRP agreement published – January 26, 2009 | Completed by the CNSC/CEAA | January 2009 | Finalized by the federal Minister of the Environment, in consultation with the President of CNSC, based on comments received. | |
| Major Projects Management Office (MPMO) project agreement signed (source: CEAA) | Completed by MPMO | May 2009 | An MPMO Project Agreement (source: CEAA) is an agreement between federal Deputy Ministers that outlines the process by which federal departments or agencies will carry out their particular roles or responsibilities during the federal regulatory review of a proposed major resource project. The agreement includes a timeline and schedule for the completion of the regulatory review with regular milestones to allow tracking of progress. | |
|
OPG submits to JRP:
CNSC acknowledges receipt of EIS and licence documentation from OPG (PDF) |
Completed by OPG |
April 2011 |
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| Appointment of JRP | Completed by the Minister of Environment and the Governor in Council | January 24, 2012 | Appointed by the Minister of the Environment and the Governor in Council, in consultation with the President of the CNSC. | |
| Panel Orientation session and comment Period on environmental impact statement and licence application for Deep Geologic Repository Project (source: CEAA) | Completed by JRP | February 3, 2012 |
Transcript of Joint Review Panel Orientation Session (PDF) For a complete list of documents related to the joint review panel for this project, please consult the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry, reference number 06-05-17520. |
|
| Review of EIS, including public review announced |
Completed by JRP |
February 3, 2012 |
Preliminary instructions for the public review and comment period Review period led by JRP, including conformity and technical review of the EIS by JRP, public, Aboriginal groups and other stakeholders, and opportunities for public comments. (six months, not inclusive of time used by applicant to respond to JRP requests) |
|
| Information request 1: JRP letter of request for additional information (PDF) (source: CEAA) |
Completed by JRP |
March 8, 2012 | EIS and complete application for a licence to prepare a site, submitted by Ontario Power Generation in April 2011 | |
| Ontario Power Generation responds in January to the JRP information request 1 of December 2009. (PDF) (source: CEAA) |
Completed by OPG |
March 19, 2012 | Ontario Power Generation responds to JRP's Information Request 1 | |
|
Information request #2 JRP requests additional information from Ontario Power Generation (PDF) (source: CEAA) |
Completed by JRP |
May 2, 2012 | JRP sends a letter to Ontario Power Generation requesting for additional information concerning the EIS and complete application for a licence to prepare a site, submitted by Ontario Power Generation in April 2011 | |
|
Ontario Power Generation responds to the JRP information Request #2 of May 2012. (PDF) (source: CEAA) May 9, 2012 (PDF) (source: CEAA) June 1, 2012 (PDF) (source: CEAA) |
Completed by OPG |
May 14, 2012 June 1, 2012 |
Ontario Power Generation responds to JRP's information request 2 | |
|
Information Request 3: JRP letter of request for additional information (PDF) (source: CEAA) |
Completed by JRP |
May 25, 2012 | JRP sends a letter to Ontario Power Generation requesting for additional information concerning the EIS and complete application for a licence to prepare a site, submitted by Ontario Power Generation in April 2011 | |
| Submission by Ontario Power Generation of supplementary material for the JRP information package #1 (PDF) (source: CEAA) |
Completed by OPG |
July 10, 2012 | Submission by OPG of Supplementary material for the joint reviewpPanel information package #1 | |
| Ontario Power Generation responds in July to the JRP information request package #3 of June 2012. (PDF) (source: CEAA) |
Completed by OPG |
July 9, 2012 | Ontario Power Generation responds to JRP's information request 3 | |
| Technical information session – Deep Geologic Repository Project for Low and Intermediate Level Radioactive Waste (PDF) (source CEAA) |
Completed by JRP |
July 18, 2012 |
July 18, 2012 presentation by OPG(PDF) (source: CEAA) July 18 2012 presentation by CNSC(PDF) (source: CEAA) July 18, 2012 webcast (source: CNSC) Transcript of the technical information session regarding the proposed design, construction and operational details of the DGR Project (PDF) (source: CEAA) |
|
| Information request 4: JRP letter of request for additional information (PDF) (source: CEAA) |
Completed by JRP |
July 23, 2012 | JRP sends a letter to Ontario Power Generation requesting for additional information concerning the EIS and complete application for a licence to prepare a site, submitted by Ontario Power Generation in April 2011 | |
| Public notice: Timelines established and joint panel agreement amended under CEAA 2012 (source: CEAA) |
Completed by the Minister of Environment and President of the CNSC |
August 3, 2012 |
View final EIS guidelines and JRP agreement published – January 26, 2009 |
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Ontario Power Generation responds to JRP information request package #4 of July 2012 (PDF) (source: CEAA) August 27, 2012 (PDF) (source: CEAA) September 6, 2012 (PDF) (source: CEAA) September 28, 2012 (PDF) (source: CEAA) |
Completed by OPG |
August 27, 2012 September 6, 2012 September 28, 2012 |
Ontario Power Generation responds to JRP's Information request 4, concerning the EIS and complete application for a licence to prepare a site, submitted by Ontario Power Generation in April 2011 | |
| Public notice – Modelling Technical Information Session for the Deep Geologic Repository Project to be held on October 11, 2012 (Source: CEAA) |
Completed by JRP |
September 10, 2012 | ||
| Information request 5: JRP letter of request for additional information (PDF) (source: CEAA) |
Completed by JRP |
September 12 , 2012 | JRP sends a letter to Ontario Power Generation requesting for additional information concerning the EIS and complete application for a licence to prepare a site, submitted by Ontario Power Generation in April 2011 | |
| Modelling Technical Information Session – Deep Geologic Repository Project for Low and Intermediate Waste | Completed by JRP | October 11, 2012 |
Presentation by OPG (PDF) |
|
| Information request 6: JRP letter of request for additional information (PDF) (source: CEAA) |
Completed by JRP |
October 16, 2012 | EIS and complete application for a licence to prepare a site, submitted by Ontario Power Generation in April 2011 | |
|
Ontario Power Generation responds to JRP information request package #5 of September 2012 |
Completed by OPG |
October 24, 2012 November 7, 2012 |
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Ontario Power Generation responds to JRP information request package #6 of October 2012 October 31, 2012 (PDF) (source: CEAA) |
Completed by OPG |
October 31, 2012 November 29, 2012 December 12, 2012 |
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| Information request 7: JRP letter of request for additional information (PDF) (source: CEAA) |
Completed by JRP |
November 1, 2012 | EIS and complete application for a Licence to Prepare a site, submitted by Ontario Power Generation in April 2011 | |
|
Submission by Ontario Power Generation of supplementary material for the JRP information package #5 (PDF) – October 24, 2012 (PDF) (source: CEAA) |
Completed by OPG |
November 5 2012 | ||
| OPG's response to joint review panel information request package #7 (PDF) (Source: CEAA) |
Completed by OPG |
December 20, 2012 | ||
| Information request package #8 from the Deep Geologic Repository joint review panel (PDF) (Source: CEAA) | Completed by JRP | December 20, 2012 | EIS and complete application for a licence to prepare a site, submitted by Ontario Power Generation in April 2011 | |
| Information request package #9 from the Deep Geologic Repository joint review panel (PDF) (source: CEAA) | Completed by JRP | February 8, 2013 | EIS and complete application for a licence to prepare a site, submitted by Ontario Power Generation in April 2011 | |
| Public notice – Socio-economic technical information session on the environmental impact statement and licence application for Deep Geologic Repository Project (Source: CEAA) | Completed by JRP | February 12, 2013 | ||
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OPG responds to JRP information request package #8 of December 2012 February 14, 2013 (PDF) (Source: CEAA) |
Completed by OPG |
February 14, 2013 February 28, 2013 March 15, 2013 |
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| Information request package #10 from the Deep Geologic Repository joint review panel (PDF) (Source: CEAA) | Completed by JRP | March 6, 2013 | EIS and complete application for a licence to prepare a site, submitted by Ontario Power Generation in April 2011 | |
| Socio-economic technical information session on the environmental impact statement and licence application for Deep Geologic Repository Project (Source: CEAA) |
Completed by JRP |
March 20, 2013 |
March 20, 2013 written submission by OPG (PDF) (source: CEAA) March 20, 2013 presentation by OPG (PDF) (source: CEAA) March 20, 2013 webcast (Source: CNSC) Transcript of the socio-economic technical information session for the DGR Project (PDF) (Source: CEAA) |
|
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OPG responds to joint review panel information request package #9 of February 2013 |
Completed by OPG |
March 28, 2013 April 15, 2013 |
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| News release: End of comment period | Completed by JRP | April 25, 2013 | Deadline set of May 24, 2013 to receive final public comments on OPG's environmental impact statement and licence application for the DGR project | |
| OPG's response to joint review panel information request package #10 – subset #1 (PDF) (Source: CEAA) | Completed by JRP | April 30, 2013 | ||
| OPG's response to joint review panel information request package #10 – subset #2 (PDF) (Source CEAA) | Completed by JRP | May 10, 2013 | ||
| Information request package #11 from the Deep Geologic Repository joint review panel (PDF) (Source: CEAA) | Completed by JRP | May 29, 2013 | EIS and complete application for a licence to prepare a site, submitted by Ontario Power Generation in April 2011 | |
| OPG's response to joint review panel information request package #11 (PDF) (Source: CEAA) | Completed by JRP | June 6, 2013 | ||
| Notice of public hearings posted | Completed by JRP | June 18, 2013 | The Panel has determined that the environmental impact statement and the documents in support of the application for a licence to prepare a site and construct, along with additional information supplied by Ontario Power Generation, is sufficient to proceed to a public hearing. | |
| JRP holds public hearings | Completed by JRP | September 16 to October 11 2013 | To hear views about the EIS and the application for a licence to prepare site and construct from the public, Aboriginal groups, OPG and other stakeholders. | |
| JRP extends public hearing | Completed by JRP | October 28 to 30, 2013 | To address the session on licensing, permits and authorizations for a licence to prepare a site and construct. | |
| Information request package #12 from the Deep Geologic Repository JRP (PDF) (Source: CEAA) |
Completed by JRP |
November 8, 2013 | ||
| OPG's response to the joint review panel's information request Package #12 – EIS-12-512 (PDF) (source: CEAA) |
Completed by OPG |
January 22, 2014 | ||
| OPG's response to the JRPS's information request package #12 – EIS-12-511 (PDF) (source: CEAA) |
Completed by OPG |
January 30, 2014 | ||
| Information request package #12a from the Deep Geologic Repository JRP (PDF) (Source: CEAA) |
Completed by OPG |
February 4, 2014 | ||
| Information request package #13 from the Deep Geologic Repository JRP (PDF) (Source: CEAA) |
Completed by OPG |
March 25, 2014 | ||
| OPG's response to the JRP's information request package #12 – EIS-12-510 (PDF) (Source: CEAA) |
Completed by OPG |
March 28, 2014 | ||
| OPG's response to the JRP's information request #12a – EIS-12a-512 (PDF) (Source: CEAA) |
Completed by OPG |
April 4, 2014 | ||
| OPG's response to the JRP's information request #12 – EIS-12-513 (PDF) (Source: CEAA) |
Completed by OPG |
April 4, 2014 | ||
| Information request package #12b from the Deep Geologic Repository joint review panel (PDF) (Source CEAA) | Completed by JRP | April 15, 2014 | ||
| OPG's response to JRP's information request #13 (PDF) (Source: CEAA) |
Completed by OPG |
May 9, 2014 | ||
| OPG's clarification comments on relative risk of community acceptance in information request EIS-12-513 (PDF) (Source: CEAA) |
Completed by OPG |
May 9, 2014 | ||
| CNSC staff response to the JRP's information request package #13-EIS-515 (PDF) (Source: CEAA) |
Completed by CNSC |
May 9, 2014 | ||
| OPG’s response to the JRP’s information request package 12b (PDF) (Source: CEAA) |
Completed by OPG |
May 30, 2014 | ||
| JRP issues public hearing schedule | Completed by JRP | August 26, 2014 | To hear views in relation to the subject of the information requests issued by the panel since November 2013. | |
| Notice of public hearings | Completed by JRP | June 3, 2014 |
The joint review panel for the Deep Geologic Repository Project for Low and Intermediate Level Radioactive Waste (DGR) has scheduled additional public hearing days. |
|
| JRP resumes public hearings | Completed by JRP | September 9-18, 2014 |
To hear views in relation to the subject of the information requests issued by the Panel since November 2013. Webcasts and Transcripts of the Public Hearings - September 9 to 18, 2014 webcasts |
|
| Joint review panel announces deadlines for closing remarks from hearing participants | Completed by JRP | September 19, 2014 | The JRP provided instructions that registered hearing participants will have 20 days to submit written closing remarks (Procedure for closing remarks by proponent and registered hearing participants) (Source: CEAA). | |
| Joint review panel announces that the panel has closed the record for the project’s environmental assessment (Source: CEAA) | Completed by JRP | November 19, 2014 | The JRP gave notice that the panel has closed the record for the project’s environmental assessment. Effective immediately, no additional comments or information will be accepted by the Panel. | |
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JRP submits the environmental assessment report to the federal Minister of the Environment (Source: CEAA) (Source: CEAA) |
Completed by JRP | May 6, 2015 | ||
| Minister of the Environment's decision on the environmental assessment | Expected from the federal Minister of the Environment | February 18, 2016 |
Public Notice Deep Geologic Repository Project — Ministerial Request for Additional Information |
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| JRP issues licence to prepare site and construct | Expected from the JRP | TBD | If the Minister of the Environment's decision is that the project may proceed, the JRP could issue Licence to prepare site and construct. | |
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