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April 26, 2021

Amended Port Granby licence reflects enhanced water protection

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) is pleased to announce that the Waste Nuclear Substance Licence for the Port Granby Project has been amended to reflect the current release limits of liquid effluent (treated water) from its Waste Water Treatment Plant. The application to amend the licence was approved by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) with the conclusion that CNL satisfied the conditions for release.

“The amendment to our licence is a confirmation that the waste water treatment plant at the Port Granby site is removing a broader list of nuclear and hazardous substances as part of its operation, in essence releasing cleaner water,” said Steve Morris, Manager of PHAI Programs & Compliance.

Newly built waste water treatment plants for both the Port Hope and Port Granby projects use advanced technologies to remove a wide range of contaminants from groundwater and surface water generated from construction and excavation activities of the projects.

As part of the application review process, the CNSC considered the adequacy of CNL’s measures to protect the environment and the health and safety of people. The Commission also considered the Nuclear Safety and Control Act (NSCA), General Nuclear Safety and Control Regulations and other environmental requirements. As part of the process, the CNSC accepted written interventions, and received no expressed public concerns about the proposed release limits.

The former Port Granby licence contained release limits specific to a now-decommissioned and dismantled waste water treatment facility that was built to treat primarily surface water.

“The new plant which was put into service in 2016 has been performing to a new standard since being commissioned and has been proving effective in removing contaminants from waste water, thus meeting the CNSC licence requirements for discharge to Lake Ontario,” added Morris.

CNL has been working with the CNSC and Environment Canada over the past year on the development of the new release limits. Through this work, CNL is achieving enhanced protection of the Great Lakes Basin ecosystem.



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