Yesterday, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) announced the CNSC’s decision to amend the nuclear research and test establishment operating license held by Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) for Chalk River Laboratories. The amendment authorizes the construction of a near surface disposal facility (NSDF) on the Chalk River Laboratories site, which is located in Deep River, Ontario. It is also on the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg peoples.
     Before making its licensing decision under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act (NSCA), the CNSC concluded that, under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (EAA), the NSDF Project is not likely to cause significant adverse effects on the environment. In order for this to be true, it will be necessary for the CNL to implement all proposed mitigation and follow-up monitoring measures, including continued engagement with Indigenous Nations and communities and environmental monitoring to verify the predictions of the environmental assessment (EA). The CNSC also decided that the design of the NSDF Project is robust. It is supported by a strong safety case, able to meet its required design life, and sufficient to withstand severe weather events, seismic activity, and the effects of climate change.
     The CNSC gave careful consideration to all submissions received throughout the multi-year regulatory review and hearing process, which began in 2016. As a nuclear power lifecycle regulator, the CNSC focuses on continuous engagement and consultation with Indigenous Nations before, during and after CNSC proceedings for CNSC activities. This includes collaboratively drafting rights impacts assessments with Indigenous Nations and communities, and consulting on mitigation measures to help reduce any potential impacts of the NSDF Project.
     The CNSC was satisfied that it had carried out its constitutional responsibility to consult and, where appropriate, accommodate Indigenous rights with respect to its decision making on the NSDF Project.
     In making its EA decision, the CNSC concluded that the NSDF Project is protective of human health and the environment. It includes the Ottawa River, and the proposed site is an acceptable and safe location for the NSDF Project.
      The CNSC ruled that the site selection and NSDF design are in alignment with International Atomic Energy Agency standards. Additional information about the EA decision can be accessed in the Backgrounder document, as well as in the full record of their decision.
     With this decision, the CNSC amended CNL’s nuclear research and test establishment operating license for Chalk River Laboratories to authorize the construction of a near surface disposal facility (NSF). The amended nuclear research and test establishment operating license will still be valid until March 31, 2028.
     The record of the CNSC’s decision is available in both official languages on the CNSC website at nuclearsafety.gc.ca. It is also available upon request to the CNSC Registry at [email protected]. Transcripts of the hearing submissions are also available on the CNSC website.
• Backgrounder
• Media Kit
• CNSC oversight of Chalk River Laboratories
• Information about the CNSC’s review of the NSDF Project
• Submissions for Part 1 of the hearing, Part 2 of the hearing, and the hearing for final oral submissions
• Archived recordings of Part 1 of the hearing, Part 2 of the hearing, and the hearing for final oral submissions

Ambient office = 114 nanosieverts per hour

Ambient outside = 159 nanosieverts per hour

Soil exposed to rain water = 159 nanosieverts per hour

Greeb onion from Central Market = 73 nanosieverts per hour

Tap water = 100 nanosieverts per hour

Filter water = 90 nanosieverts per hour

Ambient office = 108 nanosieverts per hour

Ambient outside = 112 nanosieverts per hour

Soil exposed to rain water = 114 nanosieverts per hour

Mini cucumber from Central Market = 108 nanosieverts per hour

Tap water = 93 nanosieverts per hour

Filter water = 89 nanosieverts per hour

EDF Energy has proposed the creation of more than 800 acres of saltmarsh on the River Parrett in Somerset UK. This would serve as an alternative to the proposal for 280 underwater speakers to produce an acoustic fish deterrent at the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant.
     Plans for the saltmarsh are being developed with Natural England, Natural Resources Wales and the Environment Agency. They proposed to keep some fish species away from the power station’s cooling water system.
     EDF Energy claimed that the proposed saltmarsh would create a new habitat for fish and animals, improve local water quality and help prevent flooding.
     It said creating saltmarsh is a proven way to improve protect biodiversity. It will aid fish by providing breeding grounds and also food and shelter for birds and animals. Tidal marsh filters and cleans water, prevents floods and locks away carbon “in one of our most effective weapons in the fight against climate change”.
     EDF Energy noted that Steart Marshes, opposite the proposed new wetland, was created nine years ago and is now teeming with birds, fish and wildlife. It is also a popular place for recreation,
     The creation of the new habitat to help protect fish populations replaces the original proposal to install an acoustic fish deterrent system. This system would have used 280 speakers to continuously make loud noises during the plant’s planned 60-year operation. However, the impact of such systems on porpoises, seals, whales and other species is unknown, the company said. It added that independent studies showed it would offer a very small potential benefit to protected fish species. It could also risk the safety of divers in the fast-flowing tides of the Bristol Channel.

     The new saltmarsh is one of several proposed measures to help wildlife and the environment around the Severn estuary. These measures include the planting of seagrass and kelp, developing native oyster beds and removing weirs on three rivers to help migrating fish to reach their breeding grounds.
     The proposals for habitat creation and other changes to Hinkley Point C’s design will be included in a public consultation launching on 9 January. Other measures include alterations to the way the plant will store used nuclear fuel.
     Chris Fayers is the head of environment at Hinkley Point C. He said, “The new wetland would be a fantastic place for wildlife and a beautiful place to visit. Using natural and proven ways to improve the environment is better than creating 60 years of noise pollution with a system that is untested far offshore in the fast-flowing waters of the Severn. “Hinkley Point C is one of Britain’s biggest acts in the fight against climate change and its operation will provide significant benefits for the environment.”
     Hinkley Point C will be the first new nuclear power station to be constructed in the UK in more than 20 years and will provide about 7% of the country’s electricity. Plant construction began in December 2018. The first of its two one thousand six hundred thirty megawatt EPR reactors is scheduled to be connected to the grid in 2027 and the second in 2028.

Ambient office = 116 nanosieverts per hour

Ambient outside = 81 nanosieverts per hour

Soil exposed to rain water = 79 nanosieverts per hour

Avocado from Central Market = 101 nanosieverts per hour

Tap water = 112 nanosieverts per hour

Filter water = 100 nanosieverts per hour

     Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) has decided to lift an administrative order imposed on Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) in 2021 that prohibited the company from moving nuclear fuel or loading it into reactors at the seven-unit Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant.
     TEPCO applied to NRA for approval of its design and construction plan for Kashiwazaki-Kariwa units 6 and 7 in September 2013. It submitted information on safety upgrades across the site and at those two units to the NRA. These one thousand three hundred and fifty-six megawatt Advanced Boiling Water Reactors began commercial operation in 1996 and 1997. They were the first Japanese boiling water reactors to be put forward for restart following the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011.
     In 2017, TEPCO received NRA permission to restart units 6 and 7. Local government consent must be acquired before the reactors can be restarted.
     In January 2021, TEPCO notified the NRA that a contractor had accidentally damaged intruder detection equipment at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa site. The company informed the NRA in February that some of the functions related to this equipment had been repaired. TEPCO said it had also found malfunctions in intruder detection equipment at 12 locations on the site and that alternative measures had been implemented. TEPCO told the NRA that three further locations experienced equipment malfunctions. It also reported the unauthorized use of an ID card.
     The NRA informed TEPCO in March 2021 that a preliminary assessment had rated the significance of these security lapses as ‘red’. This rating is the highest level on its four-point scale of risks in safeguarding nuclear material. This rating suggests a large impact on safety functions or performance. The NRA decided to “suspend for the time being” its pre-use inspections of the plant. These are required for TEPCO to load fuel into Kashiwazaki-Kariwa unit 7.
     In April, the NRA issued an administrative order to TEPCO prohibiting it from moving nuclear fuel at the plant until improvements in security measures there have been confirmed by additional inspections.
     At the 27 December meeting where the NRA decided to allow TEPCO to restart the requested reactors, the NRA decided to lift the administrative order after inspections confirmed that problems had been dealt with at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, in Japan’s Niigata Prefecture.
     Kashiwazaki-Kariwa was not affected by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami which damaged TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi plant. The plant’s reactors were previously all offline for two to three years following the 2007 Niigata-Chuetsu earthquake, which caused damage to the site but did not damage the reactors themselves. While the units were offline, additional work was carried out to improve the plant’s earthquake resistance.
     TEPCO has completed work at the other idled units at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa. It is now concentrating its resources on units 6 and 7 while it deals with the clean-up at Fukushima Daiichi. Those two units have been offline for periodic inspections since March 2012 and August 2011, respectively. Restarting those two units would increase the company’s earnings by an estimated JPY100 billion (USD706 million) per year.
TEPCO said , “While going back once again to the reflections and lessons learned from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Accident, we will continue to engage in activities in which all personnel voluntarily engage as we strive to become a nuclear power operator that is trusted by the people of the region and society as a whole.”