Darlington New Nuclear Project (DNNP) pre-licensing consultation

Consultation has concluded

The purpose of this consultation is to enable the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) to gather feedback early in the licensing process for Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG) Darlington New Nuclear Project (DNNP). Feedback received during this stage will help the CNSC to better understand this project.

Visit our web page for more information about how the CNSC regulates new nuclear facilities.

Background

OPG’s DNNP is a project for the construction and operation of up to four new nuclear reactors at the existing Darlington site in the Municipality of Clarington on the north shore of Lake Ontario in the Region of Durham.

In October 2022, OPG submitted an application to the CNSC for a licence to construct one unit. Part of the application included a response to a recommendation the joint review panel (JRP) requested following their review of OPG’s Environmental Impact Statement.

OPG currently holds a license to prepare site, which was renewed in June 2021 and is valid until 2031.

In 2009, OPG submitted an environmental impact statement and an application for a licence to prepare site to the CNSC. OPG did not specify a reactor design and instead pursued a bounding approach within which any technology selected must remain within predicted impacts. The project was referred to a JRP to consider both the environmental assessment and licence application. Following a technical review and taking into account comments from Indigenous Nations and communities, members of the public and other stakeholders, public hearings began in the Municipality of Clarington on March 21, 2011, continued for 17 days, and ended on April 8, 2011. The hearing record closed on June 3, 2011.

The JRP released its report on August 25, 2011 and presented 67 recommendations in its report, including recommendation 1: “The Panel understands that prior to construction, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission will determine whether this environmental assessment is applicable to the reactor technology selected by the Government of Ontario for the Project. Nevertheless, if the selected reactor technology is fundamentally different from the specific reactor technologies bounded by the plant parameter envelope, the Panel recommends that a new environmental assessment be conducted.” The Government of Canada response concluded that no significant adverse environmental effects were likely if all mitigation measures were implemented.

Although the legislation has changed since the issuance of the JRP report, no new environmental assessment would be required if the selected reactor technology is not fundamentally different from the specific reactor technologies bounded by the plant parameter envelope. OPG is therefore required to demonstrate that its chosen technology fits within the bounds of the approved environmental assessment and to assess the potential effects on any parameters that are outside the previously approved bounding approach.

In October 2022, submitted 2 documents in response to recommendation 1:

Through this consultation, the CNSC is soliciting feedback on these 2 documents from individuals, interested groups, and Indigenous Nations and communities. These documents are available on OPG’s website or can be requested from CNSC.

Comments will be accepted on these documents until March 20, 2023 and will remain posted thereafter. The CNSC will not respond to comments during this phase of the licensing process; however, the comments will inform CNSC staff’s technical review of the documents.

As part of the licensing process, the Commission will make a decision regarding the applicability of the original environmental assessment and OPG’s commitment to ensuring that the selected technology for the DNNP is not fundamentally different.

Scope of consultation

The scope of this consultation is solely on the 2 OPG documents that address JRP recommendation 1: “The Panel understands that prior to construction, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission will determine whether this environmental assessment is applicable to the reactor technology selected by the Government of Ontario for the Project. Nevertheless, if the selected reactor technology is fundamentally different from the specific reactor technologies bounded by the plant parameter envelope, the Panel recommends that a new environmental assessment be conducted.”

Feedback that is out of scope, such as comments related to energy mix, financing of small modular reactors, and construction of the proposed facility, will not be considered during this consultation period. Out-of-scope comments will however not be deleted.

The CNSC’s role

As the regulator, the CNSC is responsible for:

  • setting safety and environmental requirements, informing licensees of those requirements, and verifying compliance
  • demonstrating to Canadians that the health and safety of the public and the environment are protected

Questions

We are happy to answer any questions you may have about this consultation or our regulatory process. To request a French copy of documents or for any questions, please use the form below, or contact us at:

Telephone: 1-800-668-5284

Email: General inquiries: cnsc.info.ccsn@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca

Project-specific inquiries: dnnp-npnd@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca

The purpose of this consultation is to enable the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) to gather feedback early in the licensing process for Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG) Darlington New Nuclear Project (DNNP). Feedback received during this stage will help the CNSC to better understand this project.

Visit our web page for more information about how the CNSC regulates new nuclear facilities.

Background

OPG’s DNNP is a project for the construction and operation of up to four new nuclear reactors at the existing Darlington site in the Municipality of Clarington on the north shore of Lake Ontario in the Region of Durham.

In October 2022, OPG submitted an application to the CNSC for a licence to construct one unit. Part of the application included a response to a recommendation the joint review panel (JRP) requested following their review of OPG’s Environmental Impact Statement.

OPG currently holds a license to prepare site, which was renewed in June 2021 and is valid until 2031.

In 2009, OPG submitted an environmental impact statement and an application for a licence to prepare site to the CNSC. OPG did not specify a reactor design and instead pursued a bounding approach within which any technology selected must remain within predicted impacts. The project was referred to a JRP to consider both the environmental assessment and licence application. Following a technical review and taking into account comments from Indigenous Nations and communities, members of the public and other stakeholders, public hearings began in the Municipality of Clarington on March 21, 2011, continued for 17 days, and ended on April 8, 2011. The hearing record closed on June 3, 2011.

The JRP released its report on August 25, 2011 and presented 67 recommendations in its report, including recommendation 1: “The Panel understands that prior to construction, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission will determine whether this environmental assessment is applicable to the reactor technology selected by the Government of Ontario for the Project. Nevertheless, if the selected reactor technology is fundamentally different from the specific reactor technologies bounded by the plant parameter envelope, the Panel recommends that a new environmental assessment be conducted.” The Government of Canada response concluded that no significant adverse environmental effects were likely if all mitigation measures were implemented.

Although the legislation has changed since the issuance of the JRP report, no new environmental assessment would be required if the selected reactor technology is not fundamentally different from the specific reactor technologies bounded by the plant parameter envelope. OPG is therefore required to demonstrate that its chosen technology fits within the bounds of the approved environmental assessment and to assess the potential effects on any parameters that are outside the previously approved bounding approach.

In October 2022, submitted 2 documents in response to recommendation 1:

Through this consultation, the CNSC is soliciting feedback on these 2 documents from individuals, interested groups, and Indigenous Nations and communities. These documents are available on OPG’s website or can be requested from CNSC.

Comments will be accepted on these documents until March 20, 2023 and will remain posted thereafter. The CNSC will not respond to comments during this phase of the licensing process; however, the comments will inform CNSC staff’s technical review of the documents.

As part of the licensing process, the Commission will make a decision regarding the applicability of the original environmental assessment and OPG’s commitment to ensuring that the selected technology for the DNNP is not fundamentally different.

Scope of consultation

The scope of this consultation is solely on the 2 OPG documents that address JRP recommendation 1: “The Panel understands that prior to construction, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission will determine whether this environmental assessment is applicable to the reactor technology selected by the Government of Ontario for the Project. Nevertheless, if the selected reactor technology is fundamentally different from the specific reactor technologies bounded by the plant parameter envelope, the Panel recommends that a new environmental assessment be conducted.”

Feedback that is out of scope, such as comments related to energy mix, financing of small modular reactors, and construction of the proposed facility, will not be considered during this consultation period. Out-of-scope comments will however not be deleted.

The CNSC’s role

As the regulator, the CNSC is responsible for:

  • setting safety and environmental requirements, informing licensees of those requirements, and verifying compliance
  • demonstrating to Canadians that the health and safety of the public and the environment are protected

Questions

We are happy to answer any questions you may have about this consultation or our regulatory process. To request a French copy of documents or for any questions, please use the form below, or contact us at:

Telephone: 1-800-668-5284

Email: General inquiries: cnsc.info.ccsn@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca

Project-specific inquiries: dnnp-npnd@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca

Discussions: All (2) Open (2)