Revoke Chalk River NSDF licence

AI summary

Petitioners ask the government to issue a s.19(1) directive ordering the CNSC to revoke the Chalk River NSDF licence. The government responds that the CNSC is independent and the minister has no role in licensing.

AI summaries describe petitioners’ requests and claims. Consult the official record for the full text.

Official petition

Petition to the Government of Canada Whereas: The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) approved the amendment to the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) license at Chalk River for the construction of a Near Surface Nuclear Disposal Facility (NSDF) without getting the free, prior, and informed consent to the consultation process of Kebaowek First Nation, as per United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and without properly following the Species at Risk Act. This NSDF would hold over 1 million cubic metres of nuclear waste - waste that could take approximately 300 years for the radioactivity to wear off, and would be built a mere 1.1 km from the Kichi Sibi (Ottawa River) - where 2 million people get their drinking water from. CNL has not proven that they considered all reasonable alternatives or justified why the chosen site was the best. CNL only looked at sites owned by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), without analyzing whether non-AECL land might offer advantages. We should all be standing in solidarity with Kebaowek First Nation against this proposed NSDF on their land, as it poses a risk to the water, forests, animals and people. We, the undersigned, residents of Canada call upon the Government of Canada to issue a directive under Section 19 (1) of the Nuclear Safety and Control Act to order the CNSC to revoke the licensing of the NSDF at Chalk River.

Government response

Response by the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Signed by The Honourable Tim Hodgson, P.C., M.P. Protecting the health, safety, and security of people and the environment is the Government of Canada’s top priority when it comes to nuclear energy and management of nuclear waste. The Government of Canada is dedicated to ensuring that safe, long-term solutions are put in place for managing radioactive waste. All radioactive waste in Canada is currently safely managed in accordance with Canada’s independent nuclear regulator, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, and its regulatory requirements, as well as international best practices, at facilities that are licensed by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. Pursuant to its mandate and responsibilities set out in the Nuclear Safety and Control Act, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission is an independent quasi-judicial tribunal that makes science and evidence-based decisions to protect the health, safety and security of Canadians and the environment. An important aspect of this work is the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission responsibility to consult and engage with interested Canadians and Indigenous Peoples. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission has responsibility for fulfilling its legal duty to consult, and where appropriate accommodate Indigenous peoples when its decisions may have an adverse impact on potential or established Indigenous and/or treaty rights. The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources has no role in the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s independent licensing decisions under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act. Only directives of general application on broad policy matters may be issued by the Governor in Council under section 19 of the Nuclear Safety and Control Act. For questions or concerns regarding the licensing of the Near Surface Disposal Facility at Chalk River Laboratories, please contact the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. For questions or concerns related to the Species at Risk Act, please contact Environment and Climate Change Canada.