Nuclear commission approves nuclear waste storage facility in Pickering, Ontario

Ontario Power Generation will be constructing a storage facility at the Pickering nuclear generating station to handle low-and medium-level waste from future refurbishment activities at the plant.

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) authorized the construction of the storage facility – required for the storage of low- and intermediate-level nuclear waste from the refurbishment of Units 5 to 8 and future decommissioning activities at Units 1 to 4 – in a decision announced Monday.

The decision does not authorize refurbishment activities at the plant and a separate application from OPG seeking authorization for refurbishment will be subject to a CNSC hearing in 2026.

In making its decision, the Commission considered written submissions from OPG, CNSC staff and nine intervenors, with some – such as First Nations bands at Scugog Island and Curve Lake – asking for more consultation. Others, including science writer J.P. Unger, Durham Region resident Christine Drimmie, environmental organization Norwatch and the Coalition for Responsible Energy Development in New Brunswick, calling the decision to allow construction of the storage facility before granting authorization for the refurbishment “premature.”

After reviewing all submissions, the Commission concluded that OPG is qualified to carry on the activities the amended licence will authorize.

The Commission is a quasi-judicial administrative tribunal set up at arm’s length from government that regulates the use of nuclear energy and materials in Canada.