Notice of Time Limit Resumption

Ottawa — March 2, 2026 —The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) resumed the 180-day time limit for the planning phase under the Impact Assessment Act for the Peace River Nuclear Power Project (the project).

The time limit was suspended on August 20, 2025, at the request of Energy Alberta (the proponent) to allow for further engagement activities.  

The proponent provided IAAC with an update on engagement, as part of an updated Initial Project Description (IPD) for the project, and thereby completed the activity for which it had requested that the time limit be suspended. As a result, the 180-day time limit resumed as of March 2, 2026. The 180-day time limit for the planning phase is the period during which IAAC must provide the proponent with a notice of commencement of the integrated assessment, including the Integrated Tailored Impact Statement Guidelines (the Integrated Guidelines) and associated plans. As of March 2, 2026, there are 52 days remaining in the 180-day time limit.

IAAC and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) will continue the integrated assessment of the project. Comments received to date will inform finalization of the Integrated Guidelines.

IAAC has reviewed the updated IPD and determined that the changes are limited in nature. The changes made include information to support the consideration of one additional reactor technology as part of the assessment. The updated IPD describes the proponent's intention to consider two distinct nuclear reactor technology options for the project: the CANDU MONARK and the Westinghouse Electric Company's AP 1000.

The draft Integrated Guidelines, as previously issued for comment, were flexible to accommodate consideration of multiple options for reactor technologies. The Integrated Guidelines require the proponent to apply a conservative approach in identifying and assessing potential effects and are not specific to any reactor technology. As a result, the addition of a second reactor technology does not materially change the scope of the information requirements set out in the draft Integrated Guidelines.

IAAC anticipates that only minor, targeted updates will be made to the Integrated Guidelines to reflect the updated IPD. Given the limited nature of these changes, and considering that comments received to date have largely focused on the project and its potential effects rather than on a specific reactor technology, IAAC will not hold an additional public comment period prior to finalizing the Integrated Guidelines. Comments that specifically referred to the CANDU MONARK technology will continue to be considered when finalizing the Integrated Guidelines.

For further information relating to the project or the integrated assessment process, visit the project registry page or contact:  

Peace River Nuclear Power Project
Impact Assessment Agency of Canada
160 Elgin Street, 22nd floor
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3
Telephone: 613-699-6778
Email: Peacenuclear-nucleairepaix@iaac-aeic.gc.ca