Foundations of the PHAI
CNL implements the Port Hope Area Initiative (PHAI) based on the obligations and commitments of three foundation documents.
Legal
Agreement
- Signed in 2001 by Government of Canada and host municipalities
- Confirms commitment to work together for project success
- Description of historic low-level radioactive waste
- Description of cleanup criteria
- Requirement communications program
- Requirement for Property Value Protection program
Environmental
Assessment
- Comprehensive assessment
- Extensive consultation with residents, municipalities, federal/provincial stakeholders
- Identifies, predicts, evaluates potential environmental effects of PHAI
- Identifies mitigation measures to help to reduce, eliminate or control adverse effects
Waste Nuclear
Substance Licences
- Granted by Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
- Identifies obligations re:
- Construction/operation of long-term waste management facilities
- Development, implementation of cleanup plans
- Radiological investigation of over 5,000 small-scale properties in Port Hope
- Oversight of health, safety, radiation protection, emergency, training, security, transportation and quality assurance programs
Phases of the PHAI
PHASE 1
Planning
& Preparation
2001 – 2011
- Environmental Assessments (EA) – rigorous scientific/engineering studies demonstrating project effects on people/environment can be successfully managed
- 2007 – Port Hope Project EA approved
- 2009 – Port Granby Project EA – approved
- EA Follow-up Plans – mitigation and monitoring of effects on natural, socio-economic environment
- Schedules/Waste Excavation Management Plans
- CNSC Waste Nuclear Substance Licences
- 2009 – Port Hope Project licence granted
- 2011 – Port Granby Project licence granted
Copies of the Port Hope and Port Granby licences are available on request – contact us at 905.885.0291 or [email protected].
PHASE 2
Construction, Remediation & Closure
2012 and on
Port Hope
- 2012 – Port Hope Project Long-Term Waste Management Facility construction begins with dedicated waste water treatment plant
- 2016 – Additional support infrastructure, construction of engineered aboveground mound begins
- 2012 – Port Hope Property Radiological Survey begins
- 2018 – Remediation of waste in Port Hope begins
Port Granby
- 2012 – Port Granby Project Long-Term Waste Management Facility construction begins with dedicated waste water treatment plant
- 2016 – Additional support infrastructure, construction of engineered aboveground mound begins
- 2016 – Remediation of waste from former waste management facility begins
- 2020 – Remediation completed
- 2021 – Capping and closing of mound complete – Port Granby Project moves into Phase 3 activities.
PHASE 3
Long-Term
Monitoring
& Maintenance
For hundreds of years into the future, the long-term waste management facilities will be monitored through internal systems and routine inspections of the surfaces. Sensors in both the cover and the base liner will monitor performance, and groundwater quality will be monitored at the base of the mounds and at the perimeter of the sites.
The waste water treatment plants will continue to treat leachate from within the mounds for decades after each mound is capped and closed.
Environmental monitoring will continue including air, groundwater and soil to confirm the facility continues to have no impact on the surrounding environment.