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Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency

News Release

Environment Minister Announces Decision on Whiteshell Laboratories Decommissioning Project

Hull - April 2, 2002 - Environment Minister David Anderson today announced his decision regarding the environmental assessment of the proposed Whiteshell Laboratories Decommissioning Project. The Minister has determined that the project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects, and that no further environmental assessment by a review panel or a mediation is warranted. The project was proposed by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited and has been referred back to the responsible authorities, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), for appropriate action.

The decommissioning activities consist of dismantling and/or decontaminating and refurbishing all structures, infrastructures, and services that were part of the project. It also includes the remediation of all lands in the project area, except for eight hectares where continued management of radioactive waste under CNSC license is proposed to continue in the future. The decommissioning is intended to render the buildings and lands to a condition acceptable for release from CNSC licensed control.

Minister Anderson made his determination based on the following considerations:

  • the comprehensive study report, including the commitment to implement the enhanced monitoring program for the Waste Management Area;
  • the comments received on that report during the public consultation period and CNSC and DFO responses to those comments; and
  • the implementation of the mitigation measures described in the report and supporting documents.

The Whiteshell Laboratories Decommissioning Project was subject to an environmental assessment under Section 5 of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, as a result of a requirement by the CNSC for authorization pursuant to the Nuclear Safety and Control Act as well as a possible requirement by DFO to issue an authorization pursuant to the Fisheries Act.

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The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency administers the federal environmental assessment process, which identifies the environmental effects of proposed projects and measures to address them.

For more information:

Elise Dhaussy
Senior Communications Advisor
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Tel: (819) 953-4054
Fax: (819) 953-2891
E-mail: elise.dhaussy@ceaa-acee.gc.ca