Update on the Near Surface Disposal Facility Project

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) has applied for a licence to construct a Near Surface Disposal Facility (NSDF) at the Chalk River Laboratories site in Deep River, Ontario. The proposed NSDF Project would be located in the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg peoples. The purpose of the NSDF is to permanently dispose of solid low-level radioactive waste in an engineered waste disposal facility designed to contain the waste and isolate it from people and the environment.

CNL’s proposal is subject to both an environmental assessment (EA) and a licensing assessment by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). Both assessments were launched in May 2016. CNL’s proposal is subject to rigorous regulatory scrutiny, and it must meet all regulatory requirements for a radioactive waste disposal facility.

Where we are now

On July 5, 2022, following a 2-part public hearing to consider CNL’s application to amend its operating licence to authorize the construction of the proposed NSDF, the Commission issued a procedural direction announcing that it had decided to leave the record open to allow more time for engagement and consultation with Kebaowek First Nation and the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg, and for the filing of additional information about these consultative efforts.

The Commission invited additional submissions from Kebaowek First Nation, the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, CNL, and CNSC staff in respect of further consultation regarding the NSDF Project. The submissions were to be filed by January 31, 2023. In response to requests from Kebaowek First Nation and the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg in December 2022, the Commission agreed to extend the deadline for filing submissions to May 1, 2023.

Unless directed otherwise by the Commission, written final submissions from intervenors who gave an oral intervention at Part 2 of the public hearing must be filed with the Commission Registry by May 31, 2023. In addition, in the spirit of reconciliation and in recognition of the Indigenous oral tradition for sharing knowledge, the Commission will allow oral final submissions by Indigenous Nations and communities that made oral interventions during Part 2 of the public hearing. The public hearing for final submissions will be held on June 27, 2023. For additional information on the filing of final submissions, read the Notice of Public Hearing and Procedural Guidance for Final Submissions for CNL’s proposed NSDF.

Next steps

Text version

February 22, 2022
NSDF public Commission hearing (Part 1)

May 20 to June 3, 2022
NSDF public Commission hearing (Part 2)

July 5, 2022
Procedural Direction seeking additional information regarding Indigenous Consultation

January 31, 2023
Extension of the Procedural Direction regarding the deadline for filing additional information

May 1, 2023
Deadline for filing of additional information from Kebaowek First Nation, the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg, AECL, CNL, and CNSC staff

May 31, 2023
Deadline for written final submissions for intervenors who made oral submissions during the Part 2 Public Commission Hearing

June 27, 2023
Oral hearing for final submissions by Indigenous Nations and communities

The diagram above illustrates the key milestones in the EA and licensing processes for the proposed NSDF Project since Part I of the Commission hearing in February 2022^{Footnote 1}. The orange boxes indicate steps that have been completed, while the green boxes indicate upcoming steps. For further information on the public Commission hearing process, please contact interventions@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca.