News Releases

OPG Darlington New Nuclear Power Plant - Final Environmental Impact Statement Guidelines and Joint Review Panel Agreement Issued

09-07

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 12, 2009

OTTAWA, March 12, 2009 - The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) issued two documents today – the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Guidelines and the Joint Review Panel Agreement (JRP Agreement) – related to Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG) proposed Darlington New Nuclear Power Plant Project, located at the existing Darlington Nuclear site near Oshawa, Ontario.

The EIS Guidelines, identify the information needed for OPG to prepare the EIS which will provide a detailed analysis of the potential environmental effects of the proposed project. The EIS Guidelines also list the requirements of the Application for a Licence to Prepare a Site.

The JRP Agreement establishes how the panel will function and also describes the terms of reference for conducting the environmental assessment and for considering the Application for a Licence to Prepare a Site.

The draft EIS Guidelines and the draft JRP Agreement were subject to public consultation from September 5 to November 19, 2008, and were amended following consideration of the comments received.

The EIS Guidelines and the JRP Agreement, along with more information on this project, are available at www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca, in the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry, reference number 07-05-29525 and at www.nuclearsafety.gc.ca. The two documents are also available from the contacts mentioned below:

Joint Review Panel Secretariat
OPG Darlington New Nuclear Power Plant Project
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
160 Elgin Street, Place Bell Canada
Ottawa ON K1A 0H3
Tel.: 1-866-582-1884
Darlington.review@ceaa-acee.gc.ca

Joint Review Panel Secretariat
OPG Darlington New Nuclear Power Plant Project
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
P.O. Box 1046, Station B
280 Slater Street
Ottawa ON K1P 5S9
Tel.: 1-800-668-5284 or 613-947-0247
JRP-OPG-Darlington@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca

The next steps include the appointment of JRP members, the submission of OPG’s EIS and licensing documentation for the proposed project, a public consultation on the EIS and licensing documentation, and public hearings.

About the Project:

The project represents a proposal by OPG for the site preparation, construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment of up to four new nuclear reactors at its Darlington nuclear site located near Oshawa, Ontario, along the north shore of Lake Ontario, in the Municipality of Clarington. The project is expected to generate approximately 4,800 megawatts of electricity to the Ontario grid.

About the Agency:

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency administers the federal environmental assessment process, which identifies the environmental effects of proposed projects, and the measures to address those effects, in support of sustainable development.

About CNSC:

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission regulates the use of nuclear energy and materials to protect the health, safety, and security of Canadians and the environment; and to respect Canada's international commitments on the peaceful use of nuclear energy

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Related documents
Project milestones

For more information, media may contact:

Lucille Jamault
Senior Communications Advisor
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Tel.: 613-957-0434

Aurèle Gervais
Media and Community Relations
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
Tel.: 613-996-6860