Welcome. Pickering B Refurbishment and Continued Operation Environmental Assessment

Transcription

1 Welcome Pickering B Refurbishment and Continued Operation Environmental Assessment

2 PURPOSE OF THIS THIRD ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OPEN HOUSE Inform you about the preliminary results of OPG s EA studies on the potential Refurbishment of the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station B units to extend the life of the station. Update you on the status of the EA we are conducting for this Project. Answer any questions you may have about the Project and the EA. Receive your feedback on our work to date and on the preliminary findings of the EA.

3 ONTARIO S ELECTRICITY FRAMEWORK Shareholder Policy/Strategic Direction Regulators, Supply Management & Planning Ontario Energy Board Generators/Bulk Transmission/Distributors (Other generators) Local Utilities and Distribution Companies Consumers

4 PICKERING B NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION Four CANDU pressurized heavy water nuclear generating units (5 to 8) Power output of 2064 MW; (enough to serve a city of approx. 1 million people) Base-load electrical power for the provincial grid (since 1983) Continue to operate safely for about another decade

5 BUSINESS CASE ASSESSMENT Minister of Energy Directive to OPG (June 2006) Begin a feasibility study on the refurbishment of its existing facilities to review the economic, technological and environmental aspects of refurbishment. As part of this initiative, OPG will begin a federal environmental assessment on the refurbishment of the four existing units at Pickering B. OPG Studies Plant Condition Assessments Integrated Safety Review (Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission - CNSC requirement) Detailed cost estimates/independent third party review Funding options Federal Environmental Assessment (CNSC requirement) OPG Business Decision re: Refurbishment ~ 2008

6 EA PROJECT DESCRIPTION PHASE I: REFURBISHMENT Site and facility preparation in support of refurbishment Used fuel removal and transfer to irradiated fuel bays Heavy water removal and storage Fuel channel assemblies, feeder pipes and steam generators replacement Balance of plant systems upgraded Radioactive / non-radioactive wastes arising from refurbishment properly managed Approval sought from the CNSC to refuel and restart the reactor units

7 EA PROJECT DESCRIPTION PHASE II: CONTINUED OPERATION Continued safe operation of refurbished reactors for approximately 30 years Ongoing supply of 2064 MW of power to the Ontario grid Ongoing maintenance and upgrades of refurbished units according to the life cycle management plans Continued management of radioactive and nonradioactive waste Construction of an additional used fuel storage building at the Pickering Waste Management Facility, if necessary

8 EA PROJECT DESCRIPTION: MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES Steam Generators: Interim storage either at Pickering (PWMF) or at Kincardine (Western Waste Management Facility WWMF); Left intact or segmented, sealed and packaged for transportation. Fuel Channel Assemblies: Interim storage at PWMF site followed by transportation to WWMF. Miscellaneous Wastes Low-level refurbishment waste (eg. feeder pipes from the reactor) - off-site to WWMF; Some low level wastes - decontaminated onsite and released as scrap metal; Routine low-level wastes (eg. personal protective clothing) off-site to WWMF. Used Nuclear Fuel: Continued Interim storage at PWMF site Transportation of Refurbishment Wastes Using existing methods employed for 35 years; Wastes transported in CNSC-approved and licensed containers.

9 EA PROCESS OVERVIEW CNSC OPG Public Consultation Reviews Project Description from OPG Prepares Project Description and submits to CNSC Confirms EA requirement Determines EA type May delegate EA Study to OPG Issues draft EA Guidelines for public review Finalizes and issues EA Guidelines for the project Reviews Draft and Final EA Study Report submitted by OPG Prepares and issues draft Screening EA Report for public review Finalizes Screening EA Report for Commission review Identifies potential interactions with the environment Announces Project and start of EA Studies Collects data, describes baseline environment and identifies environmental effects Assesses effects on environment Considers mitigation measures and describes residual effects Determines significance of any residual effects Develops follow-up and monitoring plan Prepares Draft EA Study Report and submits to CNSC P U B L I C I N P U T Identifies Community Information, Opinions, Issues and Concerns EA Project Newsletters Open Houses Stakeholder Meetings Workshops Toll-free Information Line Web Site Legend: Blue Box/Solid Line = Tasks Completed Green Box/Dashed Line = Tasks in Progress CNSC determines acceptability of the EA Prepares Final EA Study Report and submits to CNSC

10 EA Elements STUDY AREAS ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENTS BASELINE CHARACTERIZATION VECs INTERACTION MATRIX ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS RESIDUAL EFFECTS CUMULATIVE EFFECTS SIGNIFICANCE EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENT ON PROJECT MALFUNCTIONS AND ACCIDENTS FOLLOW-UP AND MONITORING PROGRAMS CONCLUSIONS

11 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS All environmental components were assessed and broken into three groups: 1. Those components having residual effects which were further analyzed for significance and cumulative effects; 2. Those components having no residual effects but still analyzed for cumulative effects, but not significance; 3. Those components having no residual effects and not analyzed for significance or cumulative effects.

12 AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT Residual Effect: Loss of biota (e.g. fish, eggs, larvae) due to impingement and entrainment during both phases of the project Significance: Effect limited to Site Study Area and no impact on overall fish population Not significant Cumulative Effect: Effect limited to Site Study Area No impact on overall fish population No predicted significant cumulative effect

13 HYDROGEOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT Residual Effect: Low levels of tritium (below applicable criteria) are found in non-potable groundwater below Pickering B plant; however, surface water and off site groundwater are not adversely affected Significance: OPG s ongoing groundwater monitoring program is effective in implementing corrective action when required Tritium levels are below CNSC approved levels in non-potable groundwater Not significant Cumulative Effect: Tritium is found in groundwater below Pickering site No predicted significant cumulative effect

14 RADIATION AND RADIOACTIVITY ENVIRONMENT Residual Effect: Collective doses to workers carrying out refurbishment activities will be slightly higher than those associated with normal operations Significance: Increase in collective dose above existing conditions during Refurbishment All applicable regulatory criteria will be met Detailed radiation protection planning will further reduce levels Not significant Cumulative Effect: Worker dose levels are regularly monitored and reported All applicable regulatory criteria will be met No predicted significant cumulative effect

15 TRANSPORTATION Residual Effect: Increased local traffic at nearby intersections (i.e., Brock and Bayly, Sandy Beach and Bayly) during shift changes due to construction workforce at the site during Refurbishment Significance: Low magnitude effect limited to a few local intersections and would occur largely during shift changes Not significant Cumulative Effect: Project-related traffic increase primarily north of Pickering site and south of Hwy 401 Traffic increases from other identified projects will occur primarily north of Hwy 401 Adverse effects are largely result of growth in background traffic Upcoming improvements to infrastructure will ensure effects are manageable No predicted significant cumulative effects

16 SOCIO-ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT Residual Effect: Reduced use and enjoyment of property along Sandy Beach Road and Waterfront Trail near the site due to increased traffic during Refurbishment Significance: Low magnitude effect would occur largely during shift changes; not affecting the majority of residents or trail users Not significant Cumulative Effect: Further reduction of use and enjoyment of property and Waterfront Trail may occur because of other Pickering Nuclear site activities (Pickering A, PWMF) and expansion of Duffin Creek Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) 4 to 5 year construction period associated with the WPCP expansion Project will serve to make longer portions of the trail less attractive. Adverse effects on residents not predicted No predicted significant cumulative effects.

17 SURFACE WATER RESOURCES Residual Effect: Thermal plume from cooling water discharges will reduce during Refurbishment and return to existing levels during Continued Operation. Plume potentially affected by lake temperature increase due to climate change Significance: The thermal plume does not cause a residual effect and does not have to be carried forward for significance analysis Cumulative Effect: Thermal plume reduced during Refurbishment by 50% (approx. 5 km x 2 km) and returns to no greater than current levels during Continued Operation Duffin Creek Water Pollution Control Plant being expanded with potential for additional nutrient loading to lake. Joint studies on effects underway No predicted significant cumulative effect

18 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENTS WITH NO POTENTIAL RESIDUAL ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENTS Atmospheric Environment Terrestrial Environment Geology and Seismicity Visual Setting Physical & Cultural Heritage Resources Aboriginal Interests

19 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENTS WITH POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS Socio-Economic Environment: Increased employment during Refurbishment and maintenance of existing jobs Creation of new business activity due to spending on payroll, goods and services during Refurbishment Increased municipal tax revenues due to new buildings and structures on the Pickering Nuclear site Increased involvement of energyrelated sectors to Durham Region s economy

20 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS CONCLUSIONS There are no significant adverse environmental effects (residual or cumulative) Adverse effects of the Project are considered to be minor and localized. Most occurred previously during the Pickering A Re-start and can be effectively managed The Project is not expected to change what people do and enjoy about their communities and neighbourhoods Positive effects are broad and regional in scope. The Pickering site will continue to contribute to local and regional economies and community stability Continued involvement of people in the station s activities and ongoing communications with residents will continue to ensure that Pickering B is not an issue of concern for the vast majority of residents

21 TOPICS RAISED BY PUBLIC Human Health Malfunctions and Accidents Population Growth Emergency Response Earthquakes Climate Change Monitoring Programs

22 HUMAN HEALTH World Health Organization definition of health: a state of complete physical, mental and social well being

23 MALFUNCTIONS & ACCIDENTS Conventional Malfunctions and Accidents involve the inadvertent release of chemicals (with no release of radioactivity) that have the potential of causing harm to workers or the environment Aircraft Crash Boiler Chemical Treatment spill to Lake Ontario Radiological Malfunctions and Accidents involve radioactive components and a release of radioactivity that has the potential to cause harm to workers or the environment. Drop of a retube waste container pressure tubes Loss of heavy water to the lake Nuclear Accidents involve serious damage to the fuel bundles and/or the reactor core and could result in an acute release of radioactivity to the environment Release of water of steam generator blowdown (contents) Release to air through filtered air discharge system for severe accidents with fully operational containment systems

24 POPULATION GROWTH Population growth is an important consideration for Emergency Response Pickering population growth close to Pickering Nuclear, south of Hwy 401 will be limited, with some condominium infilling and intensification around the GO Train and Hwy 401 interchanges Durham Region Current population is 585,695 (2006) Projected to grow to 1.5 million by 2060 Projected to grow at twice the rate as City of Toronto City of Toronto Current population is 2,503,281 (2006) Projected to grow to 3.7 million by 2060

25 EMERGENCY RESPONSE Roles and Responsibilities for Emergency Response The Province of Ontario has the overall responsibility for managing the off-site response to nuclear emergencies A robust emergency plan is in place Population growth projections are required to be factored into emergency response plans Ontario Power Generation, Emergency Management Ontario and the regional and local governments work together with each organization having responsibility for a distinct area of the emergency response Drills and emergency exercises are conducted on a regular basis

26 EARTHQUAKES Dr. Gail Atkinson, a recognized expert in seismicity, prepared the Pickering B EA analysis and found: Pickering B is seismically qualified to withstand earthquakes found in this region Numerous scientific studies have determined that the ground faults in the Rouge River Valley result from glaciation rather than earthquakes The Rouge River Advisory Panel Report (2000) concluded there is no surficial evidence of a continuous fault The drilling tests in the Rouge River Valley demonstrates that faults at the surface do not represent a source of seismic hazard in the region (Godin et al. 2002)

27 CLIMATE CHANGE Predicted changes (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) to the local climate include: Air temperature increase by 2-5 o C Lake Ontario water temperature increase by 3-5 o C Water levels in the Great Lakes decrease Increased frequency and severity of storm events Predicted effects due to climate are within current plant design parameters Contributes minimal greenhouse gases to the environment

28 MONITORING PROGRAMS OPG has an extensive and comprehensive ongoing monitoring program which will continue Radiological Environmental Monitoring Program (REMP) will continue routinely monitoring radiation and radioactivity in air, water, soil, groundwater, foodstuffs and fish throughout and beyond the Region Ongoing Pickering B monitoring programs on site include: Radiation and radioactivity in airborne and liquid effluents Worker radiation protection including exposure control and dosimetry Surface water discharges for non-radiological parameters Groundwater site monitoring Consideration is being given to follow-up programs for: Transportation/traffic monitoring; signage and notifications for users of Waterfront Trail; public attitude research; etc.

29 NEXT STEPS Date Activity Completed June 2006 OPG submits Letter of Intent and Project Description to CNSC September 2006 CNSC releases Draft EA Guidelines for Public Review January ~ June 2007 Fall 2007 Late CNSC Public Hearing on Guidelines CNSC approves EA Guidelines OPG submits Draft EA Study Report to CNSC OPG submits Final EA Study Report to CNSC CNSC releases Draft Screening Report for Public Review CNSC holds Public Hearing on Screening Report CNSC releases Commission Decision on EA OPG makes business decision in 2008 on whether to proceed with refurbishment of Pickering B.

30 YOUR VIEWS COUNT Please ask questions and share your views Fill out a comment form here, or mail it back to us Contact us during the EA study Submit your views through our Project Web site

31 Study Areas Three study areas site, local, regional Site and local study areas greatest potential for effects to occur Regional study area reflects socioeconomic and cumulative considerations

32 Baseline Characterization Current or existing conditions of the social and natural environment in each of the study areas

33 VECs Valued Ecosystem Components are the aspects of the environment that are important from a scientific, social or economic perspective

34 Interaction Matrix Chart identifying potential for each of the project works and activities to have an effect on any of the environmental components and subcomponents

35 Environmental Effects Changes to the baseline environmental conditions caused by the project or activities (quality, quantity, value, use, opportunities)

36 Residual Effects The environmental effects that remain after applying mitigation Mitigation is the way in which you can avoid or minimize environmental effects

37 Cumulative Effects The effects of the project or activities in combination with those of other past, existing and future projects or activities

38 Significance A determination of how important or serious an effect is Significance is measured by: Magnitude size of the effect Geographic Extent area where the effect is measurable Duration how long the effect will occur Frequency/Probability how often the effect occurs Reversibility can the situation return to normal Physical Human Health will an illness or injury be caused Mental Human Health will people worry about the effect Ecological Importance importance to ecosystem Societal Value value to community

39 Effects of Environment on Project How aspects of the natural environment (earthquakes, tornados, climate change, etc.) can affect the project or activities

40 Malfunctions and Accidents Upsets or incidents that can occur as a result of the project or activities For EA purposes credible accidents are defined as those with a higher probability of occurring than 1 in a million

41 Follow-up and Monitoring Programs Monitoring and other measurements undertaken during construction and operations of the project to check or confirm the predictions of the EA

42 Environmental Components Human Health Atmospheric Environment Geology, Groundwater and Seismicity Surface Water Environment Aquatic Environment Terrestrial Environment Radiation & Radioactivity Socio-Economic Conditions Transportation Physical & Cultural Heritage Resources Aboriginal Interests

43 Durham Health Study A recent report on the health effects of radiation by Durham Region Health Department found no pattern to suggest that the Pickering and Darlington nuclear generating stations were causing health effects in the population (The Regional Municipality of Durham Health Department, 2007)