Darlington New Nuclear Project
Location: Bowmanville, Municipality of Clarington, ON
Summary
The Darlington New Nuclear Project is for the site preparation, construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment of up to four new nuclear reactors at the existing Darlington site to generate approximately 4,800 megawatts of electricity to the Ontario grid.
Latest news
- December 2, 2020: Ontario Power Generation (OPG) submits Notice of Intent for Submission of Licence to Construct Application. To view the Notice and for additional information, visit OPG resuming planning activities for Darlington New Nuclear.
- June 29, 2020: Ontario Power Generation (OPG) submits application to renew licence to prepare site (PRSL 18.00 / 2022) for the Darlington New Nuclear Project.
- April 28, 2016: Supreme Court issues decision on Darlington site preparation licence.
- September 10, 2015: Federal Court of Appeal grants CNSC appeal on a challenge to the Joint Review Panel’s decision on the environmental assessment and licence issued to OPG. Read the Federal Court of Appeal’s reasons and judgment.
- May 14, 2014: Federal Court Decision, Greenpeace Canada v. Canada (Attorney General).
- April 2, 2013: CNSC Correspondence with OPG on Condenser Cooling Water Option Assessment for the Darlington New Nuclear Project.
- August 17, 2012: CNSC Issues a Site Preparation Licence for OPG Darlington Nuclear Power Plant Project.
- May 2, 2012: Press release Government Accepts Recommendations of Joint Review Panel for Darlington New Nuclear Power Plant Project (Source: Natural Resources Canada website).
Darlington Joint Review Panel Activity to Date
Licensing progress details (Timelines are best estimates and are subject to change.)
- Licence renewal to prepare site
- Environmental assessment and site preparation
- Construction
- Operation
- Decommissioning and abandonment
| Project milestone | Responsibility and status | Date | Comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CNSC and other federal Authorities | Applicant | |||
Ontario Power Generation applies for a licence to prepare site (PDF) |
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September 2006 | ||
Notice of environmental assessment (EA) Read Project Description (PDF) |
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May 2007 |
Additional information was required to complete the project description. This was completed in 2007 and allowed the environmental assessment to start. |
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Federal Minister of Environment refers EA to a joint review panel (JRP) |
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March 2008 |
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Draft environmental impact statement (EIS) Guidelines and JRP agreement published for comments |
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September 2008 |
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Comment period on draft environmental impact statement guidelines and JRP agreement |
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September to November 2008 |
Opportunity for the public, Aboriginal groups and other stakeholders to review and provide comments. |
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Final EIS guidelines and JRP Agreement published |
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March 2009 |
Finalized by the federal Minister of the Environment, in consultation with the President of CNSC, based on comments received. |
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| Major Projects Management Office (MPMO) project agreement signed (source: MPMO) |
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May 2009 |
An MPMO Project Agreement is an agreement between federal Deputy Ministers that outlines the process by which federal departments or agencies will carry out their particular roles or responsibilities during the federal regulatory review of a proposed major resource project. The agreement includes a timeline and schedule for the completion of the regulatory review with regular milestones to allow tracking of progress. |
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Ontario Power Generation submits the EIS with documentation |
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September 2009 |
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Appointment of JRP |
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October 2009 |
Appointed by the Minister of the Environment and the Governor in Council in consultation with the President of the CNSC. |
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Notice of EIS review period (CEAA) |
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November 2009 |
JRP announces the start of the EIS review period with instructions to provide comments. |
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Start of public comment period Review of EIS, including public review |
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November 2009–October 2010 |
Comment period * led by JRP, including conformity and technical review and information requests to OPG regarding the EIS and application for a licence to prepare site submitted by Ontario Power Generation in September 2009. Review opportunity for the JRP, public, Aboriginal groups and other stakeholder for comments. *The comment period's end date is determined according to the amount of time the applicant requires to respond to the JRP's request. |
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End of public comment period |
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October 2010 | Final deadline for public comments on OPG's environmental impact statement and application for a licence to prepare a site |
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JRP public hearing announcement |
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December 14, 2010 | JRP has determined that the environmental impact statement and the information in support of the application for a licence to prepare a site, along with additional information supplied by Ontario Power Generation, has provided the panel with enough information to proceed to a public hearing. |
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JRP public hearing New release issued on January 25, 2012 |
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March 21, 2011 to April 8, 2011 | A public hearing was held from March 21, 2011 to April 8, 2011 in the Municipality of Clarington, Ontario, to hear views about the EIS and the application for a licence to prepare site from the public, Aboriginal groups, Ontario Power Generation and other stakeholders. CNSC staff participated at the hearing to provide its expert opinion to the JRP concerning its review of OPG’s environmental impact statement and licence to prepare site application. |
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Notice to interested parties or registered participants: Announcement of the 20-day deadline for the submission of written final comments: April 27, 2011 |
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April 27, 2011 | The JRP gave notice that hearing participants have 20 days to submit written final comments with a deadline of May 17, 2011 |
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Close of public record |
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June 3, 2011 | The JRP received and made public all the information that it needs, from the hearing, and therefore closed the record for the environmental assessment and is proceeding with the preparation of its environmental assessment report. |
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JRP submits the environmental assessment report to the federal Minister of the Environment
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August 25, 2011 | The report is published and presented by the Minister of the Environment to the Governor in Council. Subject to the Government of Canada response to the report, the joint review panel may then proceed to make a decision on OPG's application for a licence to prepare site |
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Federal government’s response to the JRP's EA report (source: Natural Resources Canada) Press release Government Accepts Recommendations of Joint Review Panel for Darlington New Nuclear Power Plant Project (Source: Natural Resources Canada) Response report (Source: CEAA) Final decision (Source: CEAA) |
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May 2, 2012 | ||
JRP as a panel of the Commission issues a 10 year site preparation licence for DNNP |
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August 17, 2012 | ||
OPG informs the CNSC of its intention to apply to renew the licence for another period of 10 years |
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CNSC mid-term report on OPG Darlington New Nuclear Project Licence to Prepare Site |
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| June 29, 2020 | ||||
| Project milestone | Responsibility and status |
Date | Comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CNSC and other federal authorities | Applicant | |||
| Protocol between OPG and the CNSC for the Darlington New Nuclear Power Plant Project: Pre-Construction and Construction Licence Application Activities (PDF) (May 2012) | Completed by CNSC |
May 2012 | ||
Ontario Power Generation applies for licence to construct |
Expected from OPG |
To be determined | ||
The CNSC holds public hearings |
Expected from CNSC |
To be determined | CNSC holds hearings on the Ontario Power Generation application for a licence to construct and decides on the application. |
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| Project milestone | Responsibility and status | Date | Comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CNSC and other federal authorities | Applicant | |||
Ontario Power Generation applies for licence to operate |
Expected from OPG |
To be determined | ||
CNSC hold public hearings |
Expected from CNSC |
To be determined | CNSC holds public hearings on the Ontario Power Generation application for a licence to operate and decides on the application |
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| Decommissioning and abandonment |
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| To be determined |
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