Nuclear facility – Near Surface Disposal Facility
The near surface disposal facility (NSDF), an engineered disposal facility for low‑level radioactive waste, will be constructed by CNL on the Chalk River Laboratories site. The facility will be a mound built at near-surface level, consisting of disposal cells with a base liner and cover as well as systems to collect leachate, detect leaks and monitor the environment. The NSDF will have an expected operating life of at least 50 years.
All waste disposed of at the facility will be required to meet established waste acceptance criteria to ensure compliance with operational and long-term safety requirements.
| Location: | Deep River, Ontario on the Chalk River Laboratories campus |
|---|---|
| Licensee: | Canadian Nuclear Laboratories |
| Owner: | Canadian Nuclear Laboratories |
| Status: | Licence to construct |
| Licence issued: | January 8, 2024 |
| Licence expires: | March 31, 2028 |
| Licensing documentation: | Request a copy of CNL’s licence and licence conditions handbook by emailing cnsc.info.ccsn@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca |
| Facility website: | CNL’s near surface disposal facility web page |
Latest news
Commission proceedings
The Commission is an independent administrative tribunal set up at arm's length from government, without ties to the nuclear industry.
- January 9, 2024 – News Release: Independent Commission authorizes Canadian Nuclear Laboratories to construct a near surface disposal facility
- January 8, 2024 – Record of Decision – Canadian Nuclear Laboratories – Application to amend the nuclear research and test establishment operating licence for the Chalk River Laboratories site to authorize the construction of a Near Surface Disposal Facility
- June 9, 2023 – Notice of Adjournment of Public Hearing
- May 17, 2023 – Revised Notice of Public Hearing and Procedural Guidance for Final Submissions – Revision 2
- March 23, 2023 – Revised Notice of Public Hearing and Procedural Guidance for Final Submissions
- January 31, 2023 – Notice of Public Hearing and Procedural Guidance for Final Submissions
Regulatory actions
The CNSC posts regulatory enforcement actions taken to protect the health, safety and security of Canadians and the environment. Find out about any orders or penalties placed on a particular licensee.
Disclosure
Licensees must report events and incidents involving licensed activities that could impact the health, safety and security of Canadians and the environment to the CNSC. Find any information provided by a specific licensee, if any, as well as other public disclosures made by licensees.
Protecting Canadians and the environment
Environment
The CNSC uses information provided by licensees to create its own reports assessing the environmental effects of nuclear facilities or licensed activities.
- Environmental assessment documents:
- Environmental monitoring: Independent environmental monitoring results collected at Chalk River Laboratories
- Federal, provincial and municipal monitoring programs: List of monitoring programs managed by other levels of government
- Radionuclide releases: Canadian Nuclear Laboratories dataset in the Open Government catalogue
Health and safety
The CNSC oversees licensee emergency planning, and works with other levels of government to ensure the health and safety of Canadians. It also conducts and reviews health studies on various areas associated with the production, possession or use of nuclear substances.
- CNSC health studies on Canadian nuclear facilities: Relevant health studies of CNSC-regulated nuclear reactors
Related links
- Media kit: Near surface disposal facility – Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
- CNSC oversight of Chalk River Laboratories
- Information about the CNSC’s review of the NSDF project
- Submissions for Part 1 and Part 2 of the hearing and for the hearing for final oral submissions
- Archived recordings of Part 1 and Part 2 of the hearing and of the hearing for final oral submissions
- April 18, 2023 – Update on the near surface disposal facility project
- July 2, 2021 – CNSC accepts CNL’s final environmental impact statement
- March 23, 2021 – Spring 2021 update on the near surface disposal facility project
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