Near Surface Disposal Facility Project

The Near Surface Disposal Facility (NSDF) is a proposed engineered disposal facility for low-level radioactive waste planned for the Chalk River Laboratories site (CRL). All waste to be disposed at the NSDF will be required to meet the waste acceptance criteria established to assure compliance with operational and long-term safety requirements.

The Near Surface Disposal Facility is planned to have an operating life of at least 50 years and as proposed, would be an engineered mound built at near-surface level on the CRL site. The engineered mound would be cellular, made up of multiple disposal cells consisting of:

  • base liner and final cover systems
  • leachate collection and leak detection systems
  • environmental monitoring systems

The proposed project would also include:

  • a wastewater treatment plant
  • supporting infrastructure, such as a truck wheel wash, vehicle monitoring and weighing stations, work stations and change facilities, security systems to monitor access and egress, construction trailers, and marine containers or tents for storage of construction materials

Under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act, CNL's proposal requires approval by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) and involves an amendment to the Chalk River Laboratories (CRL) Nuclear Research and Test Establishment Operating Licence. An environmental assessment (EA) conducted under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 is required, and an EA decision affirming that the proposed activities will not cause significant adverse environmental effects, before the CNSC can make a licensing decision on this proposal.

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Disclaimer

This map is for illustrative purposes. The markers represent the approximate locations based on available data. More than one marker may be identified for a given assessment.

 

Latest update

June 13, 2023 – On May 29, 2023, the Commission received a letter from the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg requesting to adjourn the oral hearing of final submissions for the proposed NSDF Project (scheduled for June 27, 2023) for a period of six weeks. After considering the adjournment request and Canadian Nuclear Laboratories’ response, the Commission concluded on June 9, 2023 that the hearing of final oral submissions would be adjourned to August 10, 2023. This decision reflects the Commission’s conclusion that on balance, fairness to the participants favours adjournment. For more information on the adjournment and the filing of final submissions, read the Notice of Adjournment of Public Hearing.

To access the hearing documents, please visit the CNSC website.

 

June 1, 2023 - On July 5, 2022, following a 2-part public hearing to consider CNL’s application to amend its operating licence to authorize the construction of the proposed NSDF, the Commission issued a procedural direction announcing that it had decided to leave the record open to allow more time for engagement and consultation with Kebaowek First Nation and the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg, and for the filing of additional information about these consultative efforts.

Written final submissions from intervenors who gave an oral intervention at Part 2 of the public hearing must be filed with the Commission Registry by May 31, 2023. In addition, in the spirit of reconciliation and in recognition of the Indigenous oral tradition for sharing knowledge, the Commission will allow oral final submissions by Indigenous Nations and communities that made oral interventions during Part 2 of the public hearing. The public hearing for final submissions will be held on June 27, 2023. For additional information on the filing of final submissions, read the Notice of Public Hearing and Procedural Guidance for Final Submissions for CNL’s proposed NSDF. Browse hearing documents Browse Hearing Documents - Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission

 

January 27, 2022 -  As per the details in the Notice of Public Hearing, the submission from CNSC staff as well as the submission from CNL, for the proposed NSDF project, have both been posted and are available for download here: 

CMD 22-H7 - Submission from CNSC Staff to consider the application from the CNL to amend its Chalk River Laboratories site licence to authorize the construction of a near surface disposal facility (PDF, 590 pages, 13.15 MB)

CMD 22-H7.1 – Submission from the CNL to consider the application to amend its Chalk River Laboratories site licence to authorize the construction of a near surface disposal facility (PDF, 171 pages, 5.93 MB)

As noted in the Notice of Public Hearing, requests to intervene must be filed with the Commission Secretariat by April 11, 2022.

 

July 8, 2021 - On July 2, 2021, CNSC staff completed their review of Canadian Nuclear Laboratories’ (CNL) submission of the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Near Surface Disposal Facility (NSDF).  CNSC staff have determined that the information provided in CNL’s submission is complete and, as such, the final EIS has been deemed acceptable.  CNSC staff will proceed with the preparation of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 Environmental Assessment Report, which will be made available for review by Indigenous groups and the public prior to a public Commission hearing.


The final EIS and supporting documents have been posted:


• NSDF Final Environmental Impact Statement
• CNSC Responses to Consolidated Public and Indigenous Groups’ Comments on the Near Surface Disposal Facility Project Draft EIS
• CNL Responses to Consolidated Public and Indigenous Groups’ Comments on the Near Surface Disposal Facility Project Draft EIS
• Consolidated Table of Federal-Provincial Comments on the Draft NSDF EIS
• Near Surface Disposal Facility Project Consolidated Commitment Lists


On July 8, 2021, CNSC staff have deemed all environmental assessment and licensing application documents acceptable, and therefore have notified CNSC Commission Secretariat, who will now proceed with scheduling public hearing dates. Further details regarding how to participate will be provided once the Commission Secretariat has announced the hearing dates.

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Key documents

Key documents
Document Number Document Title File Date
285 Canadian Nuclear Laboratories' Indigenous Engagement Report for the Near Surface Disposal Facility - Revision 6 - January 2022 PDF (15.5 MB) January 21, 2022
278 CNL Table: Responses to Federal and Provincial Comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Near Surface Disposal Facility Project PDF (9.3 MB) July 2, 2021
277 CNL Table: Disposition of Consolidated Public and Indigenous Groups' Comments on the Near Surface Disposal Facility Project Draft EIS (Note: Comments in this table are in the official language chosen by the commenter. CNL has responded in the same language.) PDF (9.4 MB) July 2, 2021
276 CNSC Table: Disposition of Consolidated Public and Indigenous Groups' Comments on the Near Surface Disposal Facility Project Draft EIS (Note: Comments in this table are in the official language chosen by the commenter. The CNSC has responded in the same language.) PDF (1.5 MB) July 2, 2021
279 Consolidated Commitment Lists for the Near Surface Disposal Facility PDF (2.3 MB) May 28, 2021
275 Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Near Surface Disposal Facility Project PDF (164.8 MB) May 26, 2021
272 NSDF Final EIS FPRT Review Results PDF (620 KB) January 26, 2021

External Links

Please note that access to external websites is provided solely as a courtesy. Users should be aware that the information offered by non‑Government of Canada websites that are not subject to the Official Languages Act might be available in only one language.

Contacts

Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
Nicole Frigault, Environmental Review Specialist
280 Slater Street
P.O. Box 1046, Station B
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5S9
Telephone: 343-542-7657 or 1-800-668-5284
Email: er-ee@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca


  • Location

    • Deep River (Ontario)

  • Nature of Activity

    • Nuclear Energy
    • Waste Management

  • Assessment Status

    In progress

  • Start Date

    2016-05-05

  • Proponent

    Canadian Nuclear Laboratories

  • Authorities

    • Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission

  • Assessment Type

    Environmental assessment under CEAA 2012

  • Reference Number

    80122

Nearby assessments

...within 200 kilometres
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