News Releases

CNSC Announces its Decision to Renew AREVA Resources Canada Inc.’s Uranium Mine Decommissioning Licence for the Cluff Lake Project

09-18

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 22, 2009

Following a one-day public hearing, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) announced today its decision to renew, for a ten-year term, AREVA Resources Canada Inc.’s (AREVA) Uranium Mine Decommissioning Licence for the Cluff Lake Project located in the Athabasca Basin of northern Saskatchewan.The licence is valid from August 1, 2009 until July 31, 2019.

The Commission, in making its decision, considered information presented for a public hearing held on June 10, 2009 in Ottawa, Ontario. During the public hearing, the Commission received and considered CNSC staff recommendations and the submissions from AREVA and 2 intervenors.

The Commission is satisfied that the licensee meets the requirements of section 24 of the Nuclear Safety and Control Act. The Commission concludes that AREVA is qualified to carry out the activities that will be permitted under the renewed licence and that it will make adequate provision for the protection of the environment, the health and safety of persons, and the maintenance of national security and measures required to implement international obligations to which Canada has agreed.

With this decision, the Commission requests that AREVA prepare a status report on its safety performance facility. The Commission also requests that CNSC staff prepare a report on the compliance activities and licensee's performance following the mid-point of the licence term. The reports should be presented at a public proceeding of the Commission in approximately June 2015.

A Record of Proceedings, including Reasons for Decision and transcripts of the hearing are available on the CNSC Web site at www.nuclearsafety.gc.ca, or by contacting the CNSC. The webcast of the hearing is also archived on the same site for a period of 90 days.

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) 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.

Contact:
Louise Levert
Commission Secretariat
613-996-9063
1-800-668-5284