Bruce A and B Nuclear Generating Stations
Focus on safety and the environment
The CNSC is committed to protecting the safety of people and the environment. Click below for current environmental and safety performance data for Bruce Power.
- CNSC Regulatory Oversight Report for Canadian Nuclear Power Plants
- CNSC Independent Environmental Monitoring Program data
- Federal, provincial and municipal monitoring programs
- Bruce Power environmental monitoring reports
- Bruce Power Environmental Quantitative Risk Assessment
- Bruce Power Global Assessment Report and Integrated Implementation Plan
Bruce Power is licensed to operate the Bruce A and Bruce B Nuclear Generating Stations, located in the municipality of Kincardine on the eastern shore of Lake Huron, Ontario. The CNSC has full-time staff at the stations who perform inspections to evaluate operations and to verify compliance with regulatory requirements and licence conditions.
- Plant information
- Periodic safety review
- Environmental risk assessment
- Bruce A refurbishment and continued operations follow-up monitoring program
- Fisheries Act authorization
- Latest CNSC facility-specific announcements
- Latest licensee public disclosures
- Regulatory reporting and documents
- Key topics
- Adjacent nuclear facilities and projects
Plant information
Location: Kincardine, Ontario
Operator: Bruce Power
Reactor Type: CANDU (CANada Deuterium Uranium)
Vendor: Atomic Energy of Canada Limited
Number of units: 8 reactors
Installed capacity: 6,232 MW (Bruce A & B combined)
Status: All units operating
Licenses issued: October 1, 2018
Licenses expire: September 30, 2028
Start of commercial operation: Between 1977-1979 for Bruce A and 1984-1987 for Bruce B
Refurbished units: Bruce A units 1 and 2
Special containment feature: Common vacuum building maintained at negative atmospheric pressure
Licensing Documentation: Request a copy of the Bruce A and Bruce B licences and licence condition handbooks by email
Emergency preparedness
The CNSC requires nuclear power plants to conduct a full-scale emergency exercise every three years to test emergency response plans, decision-making functions, response capabilities and interoperability. The goal is to test the licensee, response agencies, and municipal, provincial and federal government responders’ ability to mitigate the impact of a nuclear accident.
If you live within 50 km of the Bruce Power Nuclear Generating Station, you will have received information about what to do in the unlikely event of a nuclear accident from Bruce Power. For more information visit Be Prepared Grey Bruce Huron. When you receive this information, read it carefully and store it in an easily accessible place. You can also attend public information sessions held by local authorities and Bruce Power. For more information on CNSC requirements, consult REGDOC-2.10.1, Nuclear Emergency Preparedness and Response.
As with any emergency, you can prepare your family by:
Periodic safety review
A periodic safety review (PSR) is an international best practice that was adopted by the CNSC in 2015. In addition to the overall safety performance review of licensees, which incorporates reviews of several safety factors, a PSR requires a comprehensive review of plant design and processes. The purpose is to compare current design with modern codes and standards to identify reasonable and practical plant or program modifications to enhance safety and enable safe, long-term operation.
As part of licensing conditions set out by the CNSC, PSRs are conducted every 10 years at all Canadian nuclear power plants.
CNSC regulatory document REGDOC-2.3.3, Periodic Safety Reviews, requires the PSR to be conducted in four phases. Each phase is thoroughly reviewed by CNSC staff prior to accepting the document and proceeding to the next phase:
- PSR basis document, an agreement between Bruce Power and the CNSC on how the PSR will be achieved. (Bruce A and Bruce B)
- Conduct of the safety factors reviews and identification of findings (Bruce A and Bruce B)
- Analysis of the findings and their integral impact on the NPP's safety (global assessment report or GAR)
- Preparation of a safety improvements plan (integrated implementation plan)
All PSR documents are available through Bruce Power's website.
To request the following CNSC acceptance letters pertaining to PSR, please contact cnsc.info.ccsn@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca.
| Date | Formal correspondence |
|---|---|
| January 23, 2015 | Acceptance of Bruce A integrated safety review (ISR) basis document |
| April 8, 2016 | Acceptance of Bruce B periodic safety review basis document |
| May 2, 2016 | CNSC review of Bruce A integrated safety review – safety factor reports |
| February 7, 2017 | Bruce A and B periodic safety review project – Bruce B safety factor reports |
| May 12, 2017 | Bruce A and B periodic safety review project – Bruce A and B global assessment report and integrated implementation plan |
| September 13, 2017 | Acceptance of the global assessment report and integrated implementation plan |
Environmental risk assessment
An environmental risk assessment (ERA) is a systematic process used to identify, quantify and characterize the risk posed by contaminants and physical stressors in the environment to biological receptors, including humans.
The ERA for Bruce Power assessed the potential risks for the current whole-site operation, both Bruce A and Bruce B generating stations and additional facilities, to determine the potential risks to the environment and human health from current operations. Bruce Power's ERA also included a predictive environment risk assessment for continued operations including major component replacement.
Bruce Power's ERA is available on Bruce Power's website.
To view the following CNSC review letters pertaining to the ERA, please contact cnsc.info.ccsn@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca.
| Date | Formal correspondence |
|---|---|
| September 29, 2017 | Application for the renewal of the power reactor operating licence: technical sufficiency review |
| November 14, 2017 | Bruce NGS A and B: Bruce Power environmental risk assessment |
| January 8, 2018 | Bruce NGS A and B: Bruce Power environmental risk assessment |
| April 3, 2018 | Requirements for Additional Assessment and/or Future Environmental Monitoring |
| May 2, 2018 | Response to Environmental Risk Assessment: Requirements for Additional Assessment and/or Future Environmental Monitoring | May 15, 2018 | Response to Environmental Risk Assessment: Requirements for Additional Assessment and/or Future Environmental Monitoring |
Bruce A refurbishment and continued operations follow-up monitoring program
Although the formal environmental assessment (EA) process related to the life extension project of Bruce Power's units 1–4 concluded in July 2006, a follow-up monitoring program was established to verify the predictions that were made in the EA. Bruce Power provided annual updates to the CNSC on the status of the project until the conclusion of the follow-up monitoring program in 2015. CNSC staff reviewed the reports and concluded that most of the predictions made in the EA that were part of the EA follow-up monitoring program have been verified in that there have been no significant adverse environmental effects as a result of the refurbishment projects. The results were inconclusive for two elements: substrate temperatures of the thermal plume and impacts to fish and the population level impacts on Deepwater Sculpin from cooling water intake. Additional work on these elements will be addressed within the ERA and follow-up monitoring program.
Bruce Power's annual updates are available on Bruce Power's website.
To request the following CNSC review letters pertaining to the environmental assessment follow-up monitoring program, please contact cnsc.info.ccsn@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca.
| Date | Formal correspondence |
|---|---|
| March 8, 2010 | Bruce A refurbishment: annual follow-up monitoring program report &nash; 2007 |
| January 14, 2011 | Action Item 110709: Bruce A refurbishment – Annual follow-up monitoring program report – 2008 |
| October 31, 2011 | Action Item 1107-2750: Bruce A refurbishment annual follow-up monitoring program report – 2009 |
| August 7, 2012 | Bruce A refurbishment annual follow-up monitoring program report – 2010 |
| July 31, 2013 | Action Item 1307-4232: Bruce A refurbishment annual follow-up monitoring program report – 2011 |
| July 29, 2014 | Action Item 1407-4709: Bruce A refurbishment annual follow-up monitoring program report – 2012 |
| March 11, 2015 | Bruce A refurbishment annual follow-up monitoring program report – 2013 |
| April 11, 2016 | Bruce A refurbishment annual follow-up monitoring program report – 2014 |
| November 3, 2016 | Bruce A refurbishment environmental assessment follow-up monitoring program – thermal elements |
| June 19, 2017 | Bruce A environmental assessment follow-up monitoring report – 2015 |
| November 1, 2017 | Bruce A environmental assessment follow-up monitoring report –< 2015 |
Fisheries Act authorization
CNSC staff continuously review impacts to the environment, including impacts to fish and fish habitat, under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act. The CNSC ensures its reviews take into consideration the requirements of the revised Fisheries Act, as per a memorandum of understanding with Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Based on Bruce Power's 2013 and 2014 fish impingement and entrainment monitoring results, CNSC staff submitted its review of the effects due to impingement and entrainment at the Bruce Power facility to Fisheries and Oceans Canada, which determined Bruce Power requires an authorization under section 35 of the Fisheries Act for the death of fish due to impingement and entrainment at the cooling water intake.
Bruce Power Fisheries Act authorization timeline
| Completion date | Milestone | Lead |
|---|---|---|
| March 10, 2014 | CNSC determines operations requires authorization from Fisheries and Oceans Canada | CNSC |
| March 18, 2014 | Fisheries and Oceans Canada notifies Bruce Power of the requirement for authorization in order to comply with the Fisheries Act | Fisheries and Oceans Canada |
| September 2014 | CNSC distributes notification letter, including the process, to interested Aboriginal groups pertaining to the application for authorization from Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the review process | CNSC |
| September 30, 2016 | Bruce Power submits proposed draft Fisheries Act application | Bruce Power |
| October 31, 2016 | CNSC concordance review of proposed application | CNSC |
| May 11, 2017 | Bruce Power submits revised application | Bruce Power |
| June 29, 2017 | CNSC concordance review of revised application sent to Bruce Power | CNSC |
| October 20, 2017 | Bruce Power submits responses to outstanding information requests from the CNSC concordance review of Bruce Power's May 2017 application | Bruce Power |
| November 14, 2017 | CNSC submits concordance review of Bruce Power responses to outstanding information requests | CNSC |
| Next steps | ||
Anticipated date: |
Bruce Power to submit application to Fisheries and Oceans Canada following confirmation from the CNSC that the application is complete | Bruce Power |
Latest CNSC facility-specific announcements
- November 24, 2021: Record of Decision - Bruce Power and Ontario Power Generation - Review by the Commission of 3 Designated Officer Orders Issued to Bruce Power and Ontario Power Generation Inc. on July 26-27, 2021; and Requests to Restart Reactors subject to the Orders
- September 7, 2021: Decision on a Request for a Temporary Exemption from the Requirement under Paragraph 9(2)(b) of the Class I Nuclear Facilities Regulations for Reactor Operators Certified at Ontario Power Generation Hired into the Initial Certification Program at Bruce Power
- July 13, 2021: Bruce A and B: Request pursuant to Subsection 12(2) of the General Nuclear Safety and Control Regulations: Issues Relating to Measurement of Hydrogen Equivalent Concentration in Pressure Tubes
- July 9, 2021: Bruce NGS A Unit 3 and Bruce NGS B Unit 6 Licence Condition 15.3 Limit Exceedance
- April 8, 2021: Notice of Hearing in writing - Bruce Power - Application for a temporary exemption from sections 23.1.2(2) and 23.2.1 of REGDOC-2.2.3, Personnel Certification, Volume III: Certification of Persons Working at Nuclear Power Plants
- January 10, 2019: Decision on the request to renew Bruce Power’s nuclear power reactor operating licence for the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station (PDF 768 kb)
- July 25, 2017: CNSC releases 2016 Independent Environmental Monitoring Program results for the Bruce Power site
- May 28, 2015: Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission renews Bruce Power’s power reactor operating licences
- Read CNSC’s news release
- Read the Record of Proceedings (PDF)
Latest licensee public disclosures
As part of CNSC's regulatory requirements, major licensees must have robust public information and disclosure programs in place. These programs, for nuclear power plants, include a disclosure protocol developed in consultation with community stakeholders. You may visit Bruce Power's Web site for all updates triggered by the protocol's disclosure criteria.
Regulatory reporting and documents
- Disclosure protocol (source: Bruce Power)
- Event reports-S99 (source: Bruce Power)
- Environmental reports (source: Bruce Power)
- Regulatory Oversight Report for Canadian Nuclear Power Plants
- Regulatory Actions
- Most Recent CNSC Power Reactor Status Report (This report is prepared to update Commission members during most public meetings.)
Key topics
- Ontario gives go-ahead for refurbishment of Bruce Power's nuclear units (Source: Government of Ontario)
- Bruce Power's update on refurbishment plans (Source: Bruce Power)
- Refurbishment and life extension
- Radiation and Incidence of Cancer around Ontario Nuclear Power Plants from 1990 to 2008 study (the RADICON study)
- Canada's Action Plan in Response to the Nuclear Accident in Japan
- Nuclear Power Plant Safety Systems
- Understanding Nuclear Power Plants: Total Station Blackout
Adjacent nuclear facilities and projects
Ontario Power Generation Deep Geologic Repository
The site preparation, construction and operation of a Deep Geologic Repository (DGR) is proposed for the disposal of low- and intermediate-level radioactive wastes on the Bruce Site in Tiverton. The DGR will also hold waste produced from the continued operation of the Bruce, Pickering and Darlington nuclear generating stations.
Find out more about the status of this project.
Western Waste Management Facility
The Western Waste Management Facility is owned and operated by Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and stores low level radioactive wastes from the Bruce A and B reactors as well as from the Pickering and Darlington nuclear generating stations. The Western Waste Management Facility also houses used fuel from Bruce A and B along with refurbishment waste from Bruce A.
Douglas Point Waste Facility
The Douglas Point Waste Facility (DPWF) is located at the site of the former Douglas Point Nuclear Generating Station situated on the Bruce nuclear site. Decommissioning of this prototype reactor began in 1986, and the transfer of spent fuel from wet storage in the reactor pool to a dedicated dry storage facility was completed by 1987. The DPWF is presently in the storage-with-surveillance phase of a deferred decommissioning program.
Bruce Heavy Water Plant
The Bruce Heavy Water Plant (BHWP) was a Class 1B nuclear facility contained within the boundaries of the Bruce nuclear site located in Tiverton, Ontario. It began producing heavy water in 1973 and continued until the last production facilities were shut down in 1998. The demolition of the BHWP was completed in 2006. All contaminated soil has been remediated, and the project is in the end-state of environmental monitoring.
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