Darlington Used Fuel Dry Storage Project

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1 I N F O R M A T I O N P A C K A G E

2 ONTARIO POWER GENERATION FACT SHEET What s in this package? In this information package, you will find a number of Fact Sheets on important topics concerning the proposed plan to build a new Used Fuel Dry Storage facility at Darlington Nuclear. They include: The Environmental Assessment What is an Environmental Assessment? Who is involved in the Environmental Assessment? What are the roles of everyone involved in the Environmental Assessment? Project Overview Some interesting answers on a dry subject The Used Fuel Dry Storage Facility What is a used fuel dry storage facility? The Used Fuel Dry Storage Process How the dry storage process works How Safe Is Dry Storage? How will the Dry Storage Containers (DSCs) be designed to contain radiation? Environmental Protection How will the environment be protected if the proposed Used Fuel Dry Storage project goes ahead? Long-Term Management of Used Nuclear Fuel What is the plan for the long-term management of nuclear fuel? illustration of a typical reactor fuel bundle

3 ONTARIO POWER GENERATION FACT SHEET The Environmental Assessment What is an environmental assessment? An environmental assessment, or EA, is a planning and decision-making tool. It s an organized information gathering process used to identify and understand the effects of a given project on the natural environment (air, water, land, plants and animals) and on the social and economic environment of the people who live in the vicinity. What are the goals of an environmental assessment? There are three main goals for any environmental assessment: To identify the potential environmental effects in the planning stages of a project To raise public awareness and to promote public discussion and input to the project proposal To assess the environmental effects and develop plans to lessen or eliminate those effects. Why is an environmental assessment happening at Darlington Nuclear? Ontario Power Generation plans to build a used fuel dry storage facility at Darlington Nuclear. The project involves moving used nuclear fuel from Darlington Nuclear s water-filled fuel bays (wet storage) into specially-engineered dry storage containers (DSCs). The DSCs will be stored in secure buildings on the station site. OPG is conducting an environmental assessment (EA) to comply with the requirements of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA), as a pre-requisite for licensing under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act (NSCA). Public Open Houses were held in five local communities. OPG staff and consultants were on hand to answer questions and explain the project to Open House visitors. How will the environmental assessment affect you? The EA process and reports will provide you with an opportunity to learn more about the plans for the used fuel dry storage facility and to voice your comments and concerns regarding the project and its effects. What s involved in conducting an environmental assessment? Environmental assessments may be conducted by the responsible authority, the agency that licenses or regulates a facility. For this project, that agency is the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). The CNSC has directed Ontario Power Generation to undertake an environmental assessment under the

4 Screening track as defined in the CEAA legislation. Once the EA process is completed, the responsible authority must determine whether or not the project will proceed to the next step in the regulatory process (review of OPG application for licensing) and under what conditions. Further review of the project may be necessary if... It s uncertain whether the project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects, or... The project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects, and it s uncertain whether these effects are justified in the circumstances, or... Public concern warrants it. EA Newsletters are produced regularly to keep the community up-to-date on the EA What is the EA approval process? The environmental assessment process for the dry storage facility began in February, Data is being collected and public consultations conducted. Ontario Power Generation is aiming to submit a draft EA Study Report to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission by spring of Announce Project and Environmental Assessment Studies ( February 2001) Receive Scope of the Assessment from CNSC, the Responsible Authority in this EA process FOUR NEWSLETTERS Describe the Project and identify interactions with the environment to focus analysis on relevant issues Identify any issues and concerns in the local community Collect data, describe the existing environment and identify potential environmental effects Assess environmental and cumulative effects on the natural, social and economic environments; identify and apply mitigation measures and describe residual effects Determine significance of residual effects and effects on human health; develop monitoring program Prepare and submit Draft EA Study Report to CNSC (target 2003) P U B L I C I N P U T THREE ROUNDS OF INFORMATION OPEN HOUSES STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS WORKSHOPS WEB SITE INFORMATION LINE CNSC and other government departments or agencies review draft EA Study Report and seek Public Comment CNSC (or the federal Minister of the Environment) determines acceptability of EA Report PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD

5 ONTARIO POWER GENERATION FACT SHEET Who is involved in the Environmental Assessment? The Stakeholders include local community members, employees, government representatives, and groups with an interest in the process provide views and comments throughout the process review and comment on the EA studies at key stages STAKEHOLDERS Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) establishes the track, scope, and schedule of the EA administers the EA review process including review by other agencies decides on acceptability of EA ensures compliance with regulatory requirements REGULATOR PROPONENT Ontario Power Generation undertakes technical studies on the environmental effects consults with stakeholders and local communities works to address issues and concerns in the EA prepares EA Study Report

6 Proposed Public Consultation Events and Activities Public Consultation Activities Timeline Interview key stakeholders February 2001 Publish and distribute first newsletter Advertise and conduct first round of public open houses in five different locations Establish telephone information line June 2001 Conduct workshop for key stakeholders Set up community displays Develop Web Site Meet with stakeholders as required October 2001 Set up community displays Publish and distribute second newsletter Advertise and conduct second round of public open houses Hold second workshop for key stakeholders Meet with stakeholders as required June 2002 Set up community displays Distribute mail-back postcard to community households Publish and distribute third newsletter Advertise and conduct third round of public open houses Report on public consultation program December 2002

7 ONTARIO POWER GENERATION FACT SHEET Project Overview When used fuel comes out of the reactors at Darlington Nuclear, it s highly radioactive. It has to be managed safely and responsibly for a long time. The first step is to let it cool underwater for up to 10 years in specially-engineered used fuel bays. Darlington Nuclear s fuel bays, however, are beginning to fill up. And a long-term management method is still under development, subject to emerging government legislation. As an interim solution, Ontario Power Generation plans to build a used fuel dry storage facility at Darlington Nuclear. Here are some answers to a few of the key questions people are asking about the proposed new facility. What s used fuel dry storage? Used fuel dry storage involves transferring used fuel from the fuel bays into robust concrete and steel containers and storing them in a special facility on the station site. The containers - called dry storage containers (DSCs) - are engineered for a 50-year lifetime and will provide a safe place for the fuel until a long-term management program is in place. The term dry storage comes from the fact that the used fuel is stored in a dry state, contained and shielded by the concrete and steel in the DSCs, and not by water as in the used fuel bays. Why is OPG planning to build a used fuel dry storage facility? By around 2010, Darlington Nuclear will run out of room in its used fuel bays. The existing fuel bays were designed with a capacity to accommodate about 20 years of used fuel. It has always been part of Darlington Nuclear s operating plan to build additional storage capacity when needed. The station began operating in 1990, and that means there s only about 10 years of capacity left. Additional storage is a necessity until a long-term management facility is in place. Will the facility be safe? Yes. The reinforced concrete walls of the DSCs are 20 inches thick, with inner and outer linings of heavy gauge steel. After being loaded with used fuel, each DSC is vacuum sealed and the lid welded on. The walls, bottom and lid provide an effective barrier to radiation. Darlington Nuclear provides about 20% of Ontario s electricity, enough to run a city of about two million people. The DSCs are also engineered to withstand a magnitude 6.5 earthquake and will be stored in a building which provides additional shielding, within the station s perimeter.

8 The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) is responsible for determining the type, scope and schedule of the EA process. If the CNSC determines that the EA is acceptable after review, OPG will proceed with an application for license approval to build and operate the facility under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act. Will there be an opportunity for dialogue and consultation with the public? Throughout the environmental assessment process, OPG will provide opportunities to share information and seek comment from community representatives and other stakeholders and will respond to all stakeholder questions and concerns. This process of dialogue and consultation is important. Used fuel dry storage may seem like a dry topic, but it is important that we hear from the people who live and work around the station. A used fuel storage bay at Darlington Nuclear. The water provides cooling and radiation shielding to protect operating staff. Has this method of storage been used elsewhere? Yes. A similar dry storage facility has been in operation at Pickering Nuclear since early 1996 and another will go into service at the Western Waste Management Facility in Bruce County in Both have gone through environmental assessments prior to approval. Will there be an Environmental Assessment? Yes. As announced in February, 2001, OPG started an environmental assessment (EA) of the proposed project to comply with the requirements of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. Dry Storage Containers inside the dry storage facility at Pickering Nuclear, east of Toronto.

9 ONTARIO POWER GENERATION FACT SHEET The Used Fuel Dry Storage Facility What is a Used Fuel Dry Storage Facility? OPG is planning to construct and operate the Darlington Used Fuel Dry Storage Facility, a group of buildings with facilities to safely store used nuclear fuel in a dry state. The fuel will be sealed inside reinforced concrete and steel containers which will be monitored and stored in buildings within the Facility at the Darlington Nuclear site. The facility is planned to go into service in Why wasn t a dry storage facility included when the station was originally built? Why is there a need for one now? The existing fuel bays were designed with a capacity to accommodate about 20 years of used fuel and were never intended to hold all of the used fuel from the station over its 40-year planned operating lifetime. It has always been part of Darlington Nuclear s operating plan to build additional storage capacity when needed. The station began operating in 1990; and by around 2010, Darlington Nuclear will run out of room in its used fuel bays. Additional storage is a necessity until a long-term management facility is in place. How will the Dry Storage Containers (DSCs) be constructed? The DSCs will be built with walls of reinforced concrete 20 inches thick and lined inside and outside with heavy-gauge steel. This thickness of concrete will provide an effective barrier against radiation. The DSCs will also be capable of withstanding an earthquake of 6.5 in magnitude. Used Fuel is stored for at least 10 years under water in fuel bays at Darlington Nuclear. The water keeps the fuel bundles cool and provides an effective radiation shield. This is normal practice at all OPG nuclear stations and elsewhere.

10 What is the lifetime of the DSCs? The dry storage containers are engineered to have a life of 50 years; but with the kind of monitoring and maintenance they ll receive in the new facility, it is likely that they will last longer. How will the used fuel in the used fuel bays be transferred to dry storage? Empty DSCs will be lowered into the fuel bays and loaded underwater by crane to maintain shielding for workers. Once the lids are clamped in place, the DSCs will be lifted out, drained and decontaminated. The loaded DSCs will then be moved by a speciallyequipped vehicle, called the Transporter (see photo), to the storage facility a short distance away where the lids will be welded in place and the welds X-rayed. The interior of each DSC will be vacuum-dried and subsequently filled with helium. Finally, all valves and drains will also be welded shut. Routine checks are made on used fuel dry storage containers (DSCs) stored at Pickering Nuclear. Nuclear Safety Commission. The Commission is the federal agency that regulates nuclear power in Canada. Pending regulatory approvals, OPG s current goal is to have the dry storage facility in service by the fall of Where exactly will the dry storage facility be located? Four sites are currently being considered, all within the Darlington Nuclear site, south of the CN rail line. The Transporter (nicknamed the Moosemobile ) moves DSCs containing used fuel from the station to the processing building at the Pickering Waste Management Facility. How long will it take to build the facility? It will take about three years to build, but first Ontario Power Generation must go through two approval processes: an Environmental Assessment and a licensing process, both under the auspices of the Canadian How much fuel could the dry storage facility handle? When completed, the facility will be able to contain up to 1,500 DSCs, each holding up to 384 used fuel bundles. Is dry storage working elsewhere? Dry storage is a proven technology now in use in Canada, the United States and Sweden. A used fuel dry storage facility has been in operation at Pickering Nuclear since early 1996, and another will go into service at the Western Waste Management Facility in Bruce County in Both have gone through environmental assessments prior to approval.

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12 ONTARIO POWER GENERATION FACT SHEET How Safe Is Dry Storage? How will the Dry Storage Containers (DSCs) be designed to contain radiation? To begin with, the fuel itself is a physical barrier. It s made of solid pellets of uranium dioxide which contain over 99 percent of the radioactive material. The pellets which are as solid as ceramic material are encased in sealed metal tubes. In addition, each DSC has walls (including bottom and lid) of high density, reinforced concrete 20 inches thick, lined inside and outside with half-inch thick steel. Before the DSC is transferred to storage, the lid is welded to the base of the container to form a single, sealed unit. This thickness of concrete and steel provides an effective barrier against radiation from the used fuel. Will there be increased radiation exposure near Darlington Nuclear because of the new storage facility? Yes, but only a tiny amount. The legal limit for public exposure from nuclear facilities set by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission is 1,000 microsieverts a year. Currently, a hypothetical person living full time at the station fence would receive a calculated annual dose of about two microsieverts from the station. This dose rate is not expected to change appreciably as a result of the dry storage facility, but it will be analyzed in detail in the environmental assessment (EA) for the project. For the sake of comparison, one dental X-ray exposes a patient to about 20 microsieverts. Overall, members of the public in Ontario are exposed to about 2000 microsieverts of natural background radiation per year. Each dry storage container is made of reinforced concrete 20 inches thick and is lined inside and outside with half-inch thick steel. What is the exposure to workers around containers? During normal operations, workers around DSCs will be exposed to low levels of gamma radiation from the used fuel stored within the containers. All sources of potential worker exposure have been analyzed in safety reports for the Pickering and Western (formerly Bruce)

13 Used Fuel s. All calculated dose levels, for a range of exposure scenarios, are well within the regulatory worker dose limits. These calculations are supported by actual operating experience. All workers at the Pickering dry storage facility have been monitored for exposure to radiation since the facility began operation in early In 2000, for example, which is typical of the whole operating period, the average dose to nuclear workers was 0.27 millisieverts (msv), compared to the average for OPG nuclear workers as a whole of ~2 msv and the new regulatory dose limit for nuclear workers of 20 msv per year. Is there any chance of the stored fuel inside the DSCs reaching a critical mass and starting a chain reaction? Criticality of used CANDU fuel bundles in light water is very unlikely. A criticality assessment has been carried out for 384 Pickering used fuel bundles stored in a DSC full of water, and the safety margin for the contents to go critical has been found to be large. With 10-year cooled Darlington fuel, as involved in this project, there will not be sufficient fissionable material present in the DSC to sustain a chain reaction. How secure will the DSCs be in an earthquake? The DSCs are engineered to withstand an earthquake of at least 6.5 in magnitude near the Darlington site. No seismic event on record for the Darlington Nuclear area has approached this level. Given the low seismicity of the Darlington area, and the robust design of the DSCs, earthquake damage to DSCs in storage is very unlikely. Would the people around Darlington Nuclear be warned if there is an accident? A comprehensive Provincial Nuclear Emergency Plan is in place to deal with any emergency at Darlington Nuclear and how station personnel, local authorities, the media, police and firefighters would respond. Under the plan, the station is obliged by law to report any incident that could possibly pose a threat to the surrounding area to local authorities within 15 minutes. Depending on the seriousness of the event, the plan has provisions for keeping the public informed. What s the risk of an accident while loading a DSC or transporting it to the storage facility? Based on rigorous design, testing and operating procedures, supported by the safety assessment and actual operating experience at the Pickering facility, the risk is small. The DSCs will be lowered under water by a heavy-duty crane and loaded by remote control in the water-filled fuel bays within the station. Loading crews will be protected from radiation exposure by the shielding of the water above the loading level. Initially, the DSC lid is fastened (but not welded) to the base, using a special re-usable clamping device, for transit to the processing building. This clamping device is designed to remain in place even under credible accident scenarios. The lid is welded to the base at the processing building, before it is transferred to storage. Following a thorough welding operation, the DSC lid weld is x-rayed. The large white cylinder at the upper left is a helium leak test chamber. The risks of malfunctions and accidents during loading and on-site transfer, which have a reasonable probability of occurring, will be addressed in the EA.

14 ONTARIO POWER GENERATION FACT SHEET Environmental Protection How will the environment be protected if the proposed Used Fuel Dry Storage project goes ahead? The first protective step is already underway: a thorough environmental assessment conducted by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), the federal agency that regulates nuclear power in Canada. The CNSC has directed Ontario Power Generation to undertake an environmental assessment (EA) to comply with the requirements of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) as a pre-requisite for licensing the used fuel dry storage facility under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act (NSCA). The EA will determine the effects that a new dry storage facility would have on the environment and how those effects could be avoided or minimized. (See The Environmental Assessment fact sheet and EA newsletters # s 1 and 2 in this Information Package for more details on the EA). Will there be any effects on Lake Ontario from the proposed facility? There will be no liquid discharges, such as cooling water, to the lake from the proposed used fuel dry storage facility. The used fuel is processed in a dry environment, sealed in a dry storage container (DSC) and stored inside a building. (See the Project Overview and The Used Fuel Dry Storage Facility fact sheets in this Information Package for more details). In addition, the proposed facility will not produce any thermal emissions to the lake. How safe is the lake water to drink? In terms of any nuclear-related concerns about drinking water quality, tritium is a radioactive substance that occurs naturally in lake water and is also released in very small amounts by nuclear stations as tritiated water. Because of the potential health risk associated with radioactivity, the Ontario government has established limits on the amount of tritium allowed in drinking water. Tritium levels found in drinking water obtained from Lake Ontario as part of ongoing monitoring programs are very low and have never exceeded the Provincial limit. From a radioactivity perspective, the water is very safe to drink. A technician at a local water supply plant collects a sample for analysis. Nevertheless, we are monitoring surface water on the Darlington Nuclear site and assessing any likely effects on the lake s ecosystem as part of the EA for this proposed project.

15 How is the quality of drinking water monitored? Samples of drinking water are collected daily at the five water supply plants closest to Darlington Nuclear. These samples are analyzed for tritium content by the Radiation Protection Branch of the Ontario Ministry of Labour. The Durham Region Health Department closely monitors the results. Samples of well water are also tested regularly as part of Darlington Nuclear s radiological environmental monitoring program (REMP). How will the used fuel dry storage facility be monitored? The new facility will be monitored for air emissions as part of Darlington Nuclear s comprehensive radioactive emissions monitoring program. (See response below for more details). In addition, the welds and casings of the dry storage containers (DSCs) will be inspected annually. Because the fuel bundles are made of solid materials and encased in a dry, inert environment within the DSC, liquid leaks or spills are not possible. How does Darlington Nuclear monitor for radioactive air emissions? Airborne emissions are monitored by Darlington Nuclear before they leave the station. For the used fuel dry storage facility, sensors will be located outside the building to detect radiation as is done at present for the station. Monitors are also located inside the station property fence at the site boundary to test for noble gases and tritium. In addition, as a license condition, OPG maintains a radiological environmental monitoring program (REMP) in the vicinity of the Darlington Nuclear site to check and confirm that emissions of radioactive materials are under proper control and to assess the public dose from the station. Samples are taken regularly at distances of up to 20 kilometres from Darlington Nuclear. Samples that are tested and analyzed include milk, honey, fruit, well water, vegetables, lake bottom sediments and fish. A technician collects an air sample off-site as part of the Radiological Environmental Monitoring Program (REMP). What are some of the things that Darlington Nuclear is doing to protect the environment? The station has developed a wildlife management plan that has been certified by the Wildlife Habitat Council, an international conservation organization. The plan focuses on maintaining the site s biodiversity - the rich mix of living things that makes for a healthy environment. Another key environmental initiative is the development of the Darlington Waterfront Trail as both a recreational and educational resource. Schools, environmental groups and conservation organizations are actively involved with the station in monitoring, maintaining and improving the trail and environs. Examples include a butterfly garden, bird nesting boxes, and about 30,000 trees planted over 15 years.

16 ONTARIO POWER GENERATION FACT SHEET Long-Term Management of Used Nuclear Fuel What is the plan for the long-term management of nuclear fuel? In April 2001, the federal government introduced legislation entitled An Act Respecting the Long-Term Management of Nuclear Fuel Waste, also called the Nuclear Fuel Waste Act (NFWA). The Act requires nuclear energy corporations (including OPG, New Brunswick Power and Hydro-Québec) to establish a waste management organization (WMO). The WMO is to undertake a study of the various approaches for managing nuclear fuel waste and provide that study and its recommendations to the federal government. The federal government will then decide which approach for the long-term management of used nuclear fuel to adopt for Canada. Once it decides, the WMO is to implement that approach. The NFWA also requires the nuclear energy corporations to establish a trust fund to finance the management approach that is selected by the federal government. What approaches will be studied? The NFWA requires that three approaches be studied at a minimum, including: Deep geological disposal in the Canadian Shield, based on the concept developed by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL); Storage at nuclear reactor sites, and Centralized storage, either above or below ground. Other approaches may also be studied. As part of the study, the risks, costs and benefits, and economic, social and ethical considerations of the approaches must be compared. When will a decision be made about a long-term management approach for used nuclear fuel? The proposed legislation was tabled in April 2001 and has not yet come into force. The NFWA requires the study to be completed within three years of the legislation s coming into force. The federal government will then decide which approach will be adopted for Canada. What happened to the plan to bury used nuclear fuel in the Canadian Shield? In 1978 the federal agency, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), was directed to develop a concept for deep geological disposal of nuclear fuel waste. In 1989 a federal environmental assessment panel (the Nuclear Fuel Waste Management and Disposal Concept Environmental Assessment Panel) was established to review the concept. The Panel released its report in March The report stated: From a technical perspective, safety of the AECL concept has been on balance adequately demonstrated for a conceptual stage of development. From a social perspective, safety of the AECL concept has not been adequately demonstrated for a conceptual stage of development. Does OPG support the draft legislation? Yes. What has OPG done to get ready for the new requirements? OPG is working with Hydro-Quebec, NB Power and AECL to create a separate organization that will be dedicated to long-term management of nuclear fuel waste once the Act comes into force. In addition, OPG established a special fund in 1999 to pay for the nuclear waste and station decommissioning. To date, we have put over $1 billion into that fund.

17 How to reach us Darlington Used Fuel Box 4000 Holt Road South Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 3Z8 Tel: Web Site: