Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
Peterborough
Related Links
Latest Updates
- July 7, 2010: Licence renewal applications for GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Canada Inc.: Notice of public hearings (PDF)
- February 12, 2010: CNSC announces decisions on the EA Screening Report and the licence amendment for GE-Hitachi
- October 28, 2009: Notice of a one-day public hearing to be held in Ottawa, Ontario on January 13, 2010 to consider GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Canada Inc.'s application for a licence amendment to permit possession of low enriched uranium (PDF)
- July 17, 2009: CNSC Announces its Decision to Renew Shield Source Inc.'s Nuclear Substance Processing Facility Operating Licence for its Peterborough Facility
About Peterborough
Situated in central-eastern Ontario about 125 km northeast of Toronto, the city of Peterborough is home to two nuclear facilities regulated by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC).
Nuclear fuel facility
Peterborough Nuclear Fuel Facility is owned and operated by GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Canada Inc. (GE Hitachi). It receives uranium dioxide pellets from GE Hitachi’s Toronto facility and loads them into tubes that are sealed and assembled into fuel bundles for nuclear power reactors. For more information, see GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Canada Inc.'s Web site.
The CNSC has received a notice of intent and project description from GE Hitachi for a licence amendment to manufacture low enriched uranium (LEU) fuel bundles at its Peterborough facility. Before the Commission may consider a decision on GE-Hitachi's proposal, an environmental assessment must be completed, in compliance with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.
The purpose of an environmental assessment is to identify the possible environmental effects of a proposed project and determine whether these effects can be mitigated before the project is allowed to proceed.
Read more about the environmental assessment for the proposed addition of a low enriched uranium fuel bundle manufacturing line.
Tritium light source processing facility
Shield Source Incorporated operates a gaseous tritium light source processing facility. The facility receives tritium gas in sealed containers from a CNSC-licensed facility and then inserts the gas into glass tubes to create luminescent exit and aircraft signs. For more information, see Shield Source Incorporated’s Web site.
CNSC personnel perform periodic inspections of these licensed facilities to evaluate the licensee's operations, compliance with regulatory requirements, and performance in areas including environmental protection, radiation protection, quality assurance, emergency preparedness and security.
CNSC also reviews safety program documentation, procedures and performance data to verify compliance with site-specific licence conditions, as well as with the Nuclear Safety and Control Act and its regulations.
For more information about tritium and how the CNSC regulates it, please consult:
Several other facilities licensed by the CNSC are located in Port Hope, about 50 km south of Peterborough.
