Status Update on Canadian Nuclear Laboratories Proposed Near Surface Disposal Facility

Abstract

The construction of a Near Surface Disposal Facility (NSDF) is being proposed by Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL). The NSDF will be a Class IB nuclear facility for the disposal of solid radioactive low-level radioactive waste located at the Chalk River Laboratories (CRL) site in Deep River, Ontario. The CRL site is located in Renfrew County, Ontario, adjacent to the Ottawa River approximately 185 km northwest of Ottawa. The purpose of the NSDF Project is to provide the permanent disposal of current and future low-level radioactive waste mainly from the CRL site in a manner that is protective of both the public and the environment. Further, the NSDF Project would enable the remediation of historically contaminated lands and legacy waste management areas, as well as the decommissioning of outdated infrastructure to facilitate the CRL site revitalization. In 2016, CNL submitted the NSDF Project Description to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), leading to the initiation of the environmental assessment process under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012. In 2017, a draft Environmental Impact Statement was submitted by CNL for Federal-Provincial, Indigenous Nations, and public review. In parallel, technical studies and documents prepared and submitted to the CNSC staff in support of the application to construct. In July 2021, CNSC staff determined that the information provided in CNL’s submission was complete and, as such, the final Environmental Impact Statement and licensing documentation was deemed acceptable. A two-part Public hearing was held in 2022, followed by a Procedural Direction and oral presentations in 2023. This paper will provide an overview of the NSDF project, current status of the regulatory review and project schedule.