Class IV Power Electrical Infrastructure Project

The Electrical Switch Yard at Atomic Energy of Canada Limited's (AECL's), Chalk River Laboratories (CRL) site requires replacement. As the responsible authority, AECL must determine whether the proposed Class IV Power Electrical Infrastructure Project (‘Project') at the CRL site is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

The purpose of the Project is to mitigate operational risk, improve long‑term power reliability and meet CRL's electrical power requirements for the foreseeable future. The Project includes the replacement of existing aging infrastructure with a Customer Transformer Station (CTS) and the construction and installation of a distribution network referred to as the Facilitating Electrical Energy Distribution (FEED). The CTS would connect to the Hydro One Network Incorporated's (HONI) existing 115 kV D6 line and the HONI Junction Station.  As part of the overall Project design, the Junction station will supply 115kV to the CTS and step-down the voltage to 13.8 kV for distribution at CRL. The FEED would connect the CTS to the CRL site.

The physical activities for the Project would take place within the built-up area of CRL, on previously disturbed land.  The Project would be conducted through two work packages, planned for 2027/28, and would involve site preparation, including grading and vegetation clearing, the construction of physical components such as the switchyard and associated equipment, and the electrical services building. The second work package for the FEED network involves the installation of approximately 80 hydro poles, transformers, underground ducts, and overhead cables. 

The project will be assessed to identify all environmental interactions from the proposed activities and establish appropriate technically and economically feasible mitigation measures where applicable.