– Edited By Chris Reed –
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) announced their decision to issue a transport license and certificate to Bruce Power for the transport of 16 decommissioned steam generators to Sweden. The license will be valid for a period of one year from February 4, 2011 until February 3, 2012.
"We always believed this was the right thing to do to reduce our environmental footprint and we are pleased the soundness of our case has been verified by the CNSC and a license has been approved,” said Duncan Hawthorne, President and CEO of Bruce Power.
In making its decision, the Commission considered information presented at a public hearing held on September 28 and 29, 2010 in Ottawa, Ontario. During the hearing, the Commission received and considered CNSC staff recommendations and submissions from Bruce Power and 77 interveners. Following the hearing, the Commission requested additional information and allowed additional time for supplementary written submissions from hearing participants. CNSC staff’s supplementary submission was received on October 18, 2010 and 32 supplementary participant submissions were received by the November 22, 2010 deadline.
In making its decision, the Commission considered various issues related to Bruce Power’s qualifications to carry out the proposed activities and the adequacy of the proposed measures to protect the environment, the health and safety of persons, national security and Canada’s international obligations.
Based on its deliberations, the Commission is satisfied that the environmental review conducted under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act provides sufficient treatment of the potential adverse environmental impacts of the conduct of the proposed activities.
The Commission is satisfied that Bruce Power’s application meets the international regulations of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Canadian requirements of the Packaging and Transport of Nuclear Substances Regulations for a special arrangement.
The Commission is satisfied that the risk to the health and safety of the public and the environment posed by the proposed activity is negligible.
The Commission is satisfied that Bruce Power is qualified to carry out the activities to be permitted under the license and certificate, and that Bruce Power will make adequate provisions to protect the environment, the health and safety of persons, and to maintain national security and measures required to implement Canada’s international obligations.
Following the hearing in Ottawa last year, Bruce Power took steps to launch an information website to provide the public and stakeholder’s additional factual information on the company’s proposal. Through public opinion polling, Bruce Power found strong public support for the plan to reduce its environmental footprint.
The website can be viewed at www.rightthingtodo.ca