Recent news and project updates
Transfer of land and facility are milestones for Port Granby Project
March 30, 2012 - The Port Hope Area Initiative Management Office (PHAI MO) has achieved a milestone for the Port Granby Project with the assumption of responsibility for the operation of the existing Port Granby Waste Management Facility (WMF).
In November 2011, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission approved Atomic Energy of Canada Limited’s licence application for the Port Granby Project – providing approval for the relocation and safe, long-term management of historic low-level radioactive waste currently located on the shore of Lake Ontario in Southeast Clarington. The licence decision also enabled the Government of Canada to acquire 275-hectares (680 acres) of land from Cameco Corporation, which includes the existing WMF, and for the PHAI MO to assume responsibility for the facility’s operation from Cameco.
“The PHAI MO is committed to the safe operation of the Port Granby WMF,” said Dave Smith, Port Granby Project director. “We have a highly qualified and dedicated staff in place to work collaboratively with Cameco to ensure the transfer of responsibility takes place seamlessly and efficiently.”
For the full news release click here.
Port Granby Discussion Group talks dust, tree planting and Elliott Road construction
Photo: Port Granby residents, Municipality of Clarington officials and staff members from the Port Hope Area Initiative Management Office discuss the Port Granby Project’s Phase 2 activities and plans at the Port Granby Project Discussion Group meeting in Newtonville Hall on March 21.
March 28, 2012 – Dust Management, tree planting and the rebuilding of Elliott Road led the topics of interest at the Port Granby Discussion Group meeting held on Mar. 21 at Newtonville Hall.
More than 20 Port Granby residents, Municipality of Clarington officials and staff members from the Port Hope Area Initiative Management Office (PHAI MO) came together to discuss the Port Granby Project’s Phase 2 activities and plans. PHAI MO technical experts delivered information through presentations and demonstrations, while participating in an open dialogue with the group.
“The Discussion Group is a platform for residents to be heard and for the PHAI to provide Port Granby residents with the information they’ve asked for” said Christine Fahey, PHAI general manager. “They’re very interested in the project and we remain committed to working together, along with theMunicipality of Clarington,to minimize community impacts as we move forward with the implementation phase.”
The PHAI received a 10-year licence from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission for the Port Granby Project in November. This licence, combined with the announcement of $1.28 billion in federal funding for the Port Hope and Port Granby Projects, marked the beginning of the implementation phase.
The Port Granby Discussion Group plans to hold meetings throughout Phase 2 and will continue to cover topics of interest to local residents. Anyone who was unable to attend the Port Granby Discussion Group meeting is welcome to get more information at the Public Information Exchange at 115 Toronto Road, call: 905.885.0291 or email: info@phai.ca.
Elliott Road update
March 13, 2012 – The tender for the reconstruction of Elliott Road in Port Granby, Clarington, is now available on the federal government’s procurement website MERX. Details of the contract can be found here.
February 2012 - The focus of work this winter and spring will be on Elliott Road, which will be the route for clean construction material and provide access for workers to enter the site of the new Long-Term Waste Management Facility (LTWMF).
This means you will start to see activity in your community over the next few months. For the full update, click here.
Phase 2 funding moves PHAI forward
January 13, 2012 – The Port Hope Area Initiative Management Office (PHAI MO) today received confirmation of funding from the Government of Canada, which wi
ll allow the clean-up project to move forward into Phase 2.
Photo: The Honourable Joe Oliver, Minister of Natural Resources, was joined by local M.P Rick Norlock, and the mayors of Port Hope and Clarington on Friday, Jan. 13, to announce a federal commitment of $1.28 billion over 10 years to clean-up low-level radioactive waste in the Port Hope area.
The news release from the PHAI MO can be found here
The news release from Natural Resources Canada can be found here
The backgrounder can be found here
AECL receives licence approval for Port Granby Project
November 30, 2011 – The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) today approved Atomic Energy of Canada Limited’s (AECL) licence application for the Port Granby Project – providing approval for the relocation and safe, long-term management of historic low-level radioactive waste currently located on the shore of Lake Ontario in Southeast Clarington.
AECL and its operating agency, the Port Hope Area Initiative Management Office (PHAI MO), presented its detailed plans at a licence hearing in Courtice, Ont., on Sept. 27. The licence provides approval for the PHAI MO to move the waste away from Lake Ontario to a new, engineered aboveground mound to be built north of the current site. The waste originated from Eldorado Limited – a former Crown Corporation – and was deposited at the site between 1955 and 1988.
“We are pleased with the CNSC’s decision,” said Christine Fahey, project director for the PHAI. “Together with federal funding approval, this licence will allow us to move forward in cleaning up the environment, while providing a solution for the community and future generations.”
With the licence decision, the Government of Canada – on behalf of AECL – can acquire the land for the new facility and assume ownership and operation of the current waste site from Cameco Corporation, its owner since 1988. Road improvements and construction of infrastructure needed for the cleanup can begin.
The PHAI MO will continue to work closely with the Municipality of Clarington and consult with local residents and other stakeholders to ensure the project’s impact on the community is minimized. Plans to manage and monitor dust, noise, traffic and other project effects will be shared with the community throughout the project.
Port Granby Project Public Attitude Survey
May 2011: Executive Summary
Port Granby Project Update
(click the link to view)
Port Granby Fall Open House on
Environmental Protection and Monitoring
- Air and Noise monitoring;
- Groundwater, storm water and waste water quality and flow;
- Soil quality, water quality, flow and sediment quality;
- Plants and wildlife habitat;
- Human health;
- Land use and visual setting;
- Traffic and transportation;
- Community life and economy; and
- Heritage, cultural resources and aboriginal interests.
Work in progress:
Surveys and Detailed Design Development
Standard land surveys along Lakeshore Road, Elliott Road, Concession Road 1 and at the sites of the existing and proposed long-term waste management facilities as well as soil condition testing at the future site of the Lakeshore Road underpass are part of detailed design development for the Project.
Please contact the PHAI Project Information Exchange if you would like further information.
Thanks to everyone for helping to make our
Official Opening event a success!
Fall 2010: Work completed
- Installation of new Weather Station
- Work on site of proposed new Long Term Waste Management Facility
- Road survey on Lakeshore Road in front of the Port Granby Waste Management Facility
- Geotechnical work (drilling and soil sampling) at the Port Granby Waste Management Facility
- Installation of new Air Monitoring Station
Pilot Water Treatment Studies: complete
Work this summer tested new treatment approaches for waste water discharged from the Port Granby Waste Management Facility into Lake Ontario.
The tests were carried out in preparation for the design and construction of a new waste water treatment facility to be built as part of the Port Hope Area Initiative’s Port Granby Project for the long-term safe management of the low-level radioactive waste.
The pilot testing took place on the Port Granby waste site to the south of the existing water treatment lagoons.
The Port Granby Waste Management Facility is currently owned by Cameco Corporation and operated under license from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. Ownership of the facility will be transferred to the Government of Canada before the construction phase of the Port Granby Project begins.
We've moved!
The Port Hope Area Initiative Management Office, including the Project Information Exchange and the Property Value Protection Program, has moved to:
115 Toronto Road
Port Hope, Ontario
L1A 3S4
Phone 905.885.0291
Email info@phai.ca
Local residents and visitors are always welcome to stop by meet with Port Hope Area Initiative Management Office (PHAI MO) staff to learn about the Port Granby project and the Property Value Protection Program. The Project Information Exchange is prominently located at the front of the new Port Hope Area Initiative building at 115 Toronto Road and offers barrier-free access.
The Government of Canada takes another important step in the Port Hope Area Initiative
(Public Works and Government Services News Release, April 16, 2010)