McArthur River Mine
Cameco owns and is licensed to operate the McArthur River Mine site, located in northern Saskatchewan. The CNSC has full-time staff in Saskatoon and Ottawa who periodically perform inspections to evaluate operations and to verify compliance with regulatory requirements and licence conditions.
Facility Information

Aerial view of Cameco's McArthur River Mine site
Location: Northern Saskatchewan
Licensee: Cameco Corporation
Status: Operating
Licence issued: November 1, 2013
Licence expires: October 31, 2023
Start of commercial operation: 1999
Cameco discovered the McArthur River ore body in 1988. Construction of the McArthur River Operation began in 1997, with mining beginning in late 1999. The mine is located approximately 620 kilometres north of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. McArthur River is the world's largest high-grade uranium mine. For more information, visit Cameco's website.
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 Cameco’s McArthur River Mine.
Operating Performance of the McArthur River Mine
The CNSC produces an annual report on the performance of uranium fuel cycle and processing facilities, which includes the McArthur River Mine. The report provides information on events, facility modifications, and areas of increased regulatory focus. It also tracks data on:
- public and worker radiation dose
- lost-time incidents for workers
- environmental monitoring results
- environmental reportable spills and corrective actions taken
- current financial guarantees for future decommissioning costs
Read the report to learn about operating performance of the McArthur River Mine.
2014 Independent Environmental Monitoring Program results for McArthur River mine

Disclosure Protocol
As part of CNSC's regulatory requirements, major licensees must have robust public information and disclosure programs in place. These programs, for major uranium mines and mills, include a disclosure protocol developed in consultation with community stakeholders.
Regulatory Reporting
- Regulatory Oversight Report for Uranium Mines and Mills in Canada
- Regulatory actions
- Event Reports for Major Nuclear Facilities
Other Key Topics
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