Question Period Note: Status of the Environmental Assessment of the Deep Geologic Repository Project

Status of the Environmental Assessment of the Deep Geologic Repository Project

• We support the safe and responsible use of nuclear energy and are committed to ensuring that properly funded solutions are in place for managing radioactive waste over the long term.

DEEP GEOLOGIC REPOSITORY PROJECT
o The Proponent committed to not proceed with the Project without the support of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation.
o The Proponent has been asked to update its assessment of the Project’s potential cumulative effects on physical and cultural heritage.
o The update will consider information gathered through the Nation’s community process on whether to support the Project.

• Informed decision-making requires all available and relevant information to be gathered and considered.

• Ontario Power Generation (the Proponent), a provincial crown corporation, proposes to construct and operate a facility for the management of low and intermediate level radioactive waste at the existing Bruce Nuclear Generating Site in the Municipality of Kincardine, Ontario. The Deep Geologic Repository Project (the Project) would be constructed in the stable bedrock beneath the Bruce Nuclear Site.
• In 2006, Ontario Ministry of the Environment determined that no provincial environmental assessment was required for the Project. Relevant provincial ministries participated in the federal assessment process.
• The environmental assessment of the Project was referred in June 2007 to a Joint Review Panel supported by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. In 2015, the Joint Review Panel concluded that the Project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects, taking into account the implementation of the Panel’s recommended mitigation measures.
• On February 18, 2016, your predecessor asked the Proponent to provide information, prior to making a decision on the Project, concerning alternate locations for the Project, analysis of the cumulative effects assessment and the Proponent’s commitments with respect to mitigation.
• On December 12, 2016, the Governor in Council extended the time limit for issuing the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act 2012 (CEAA 2012) Decision Statement by 333 days. This extension will provide sufficient time to analyze additional information that has been requested.
• On December 28, 2016, the Proponent responded to the requests. From January – June 2017, the Agency conducted a technical review, including a public comment period, on the Proponent’s information. Once the Proponent has provided all outstanding information and analysis, the Agency will make its draft Report and potential conditions available for public comment. During the Joint Review process, the Proponent committed that it would not proceed with the Project without the consent of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation. On July 24, 2017, the Saugeen Ojibway Nation wrote to your predecessor indicating that it is engaged in a community-driven consultation process regarding the Proponent’s commitment and that the decisions under CEAA 2012 should be informed by the results of its community process.
• On August 21, 2017, your predecessor asked the Proponent to update the analysis of the potential cumulative effects of the Project on physical and cultural heritage, taking into account the results of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation’s community consultation process. The regulatory timeline is paused until the Proponent responds.
• Redacted

Question Period notes as provided by the Department to the Minister’s Office