April 14, 2024

See also CNL’s Integrated Waste Strategy alarms downstream residents and 2000 nuclear waste shipments planned, from Pinawa Manitoba to Chalk River, Ontario and Transport of radioactive waste on Canadian roads ~ a growing public risk

This correspondence from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission dated February 23, 2024 suggests that Canadian Nuclear Laboratories has applied for a license to transport used nuclear fuel from Whiteshell Laboratories to Chalk River Laboratories and that the shipments are tentatively planned to commence in June 2025. High level waste shipments from Quebec to Chalk River are also planned they will likely pass through the cities of Montreal and Ottawa or Gatinueau.

— Original message —
Subject: RE: Use of NMWO Used Fuel Transportation Package for Whiteshell HLWshipments to Chalk River
From: “Campbell, Kimberley” <Kimberley.Campbell@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca>
To: ole@nrtco.net <ole@nrtco.net>
Cc: “Gacem, Mohamed Cherif” <MohamedCherif.Gacem@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca>, “Stewart, Andrew” <Andrew.Stewart@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca>, “Islam, Wasif” <Wasif.Islam@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca>, “Igric, Petar” <petar.igric@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca>, “Lemoine, Eric” <eric.lemoine@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca>, <Dagenais>, François <Francois.Dagenais@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca>, “Pyne, Jennifer” <Jennifer.Pyne@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca>, Information / Information (CNSC/CCSN) <cnsc.info.ccsn@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca>
Date: Friday, 23/02/2024 7:10 AM

Good morning Mr. Hendrickson:

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) has received an application from CNL to support the use of Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s (NWMO)  Used Fuel Transport Package (UFTP) for the shipment of used nuclear fuel from Whiteshell Laboratories to Chalk River Laboratories. CNSC’s Transport Licensing and Strategic Support Division (TLSSD)  is currently reviewing the application; however, a final certification decision has not yet been made. Pending an approved CNSC package certificate for the UFTP, and a CNSC licence authorizing the transport,  used fuel shipments are tentatively planned to commence in June 2025. (emphasis added)

Additional information on CNSC’s processes for the certification of packages and transport licences can be found at Packaging and transport of nuclear substances (nuclearsafety.gc.ca).

Regards,

Kim

Kim Campbell   (she/her/elle)

Director Canadian Nuclear Laboratories Regulatory Program Division

Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission

Kimberley.campbell@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca

613-295-6143

From: ole@nrtco.net <ole@nrtco.net>
Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2024 1:32 PM
To: Campbell, Kimberley <Kimberley.Campbell@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca>
Cc: Gacem, Mohamed Cherif <MohamedCherif.Gacem@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca>
Subject: Use of NMWO Used Fuel Transportation Package for Whiteshell HLW shipments to Chalk River

EXTERNAL EMAIL – USE CAUTION / COURRIEL EXTERNE – FAITES PREUVE DE PRUDENCE

To:        Kimberley Campbell

             Director, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories Regulatory Program Division

             Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission

Date:     February 20, 2024

Subject: Use of NMWO Used Fuel Transportation Package for Whiteshell HLW shipments to Chalk River

The following question was posed during this morning’s Canadian Nuclear Laboratories webinar, “Restoring the Whiteshell Laboratories site”:

We have read that an application was submitted to the CNSC in 2023 to allow the use of the NWMO’s Used Fuel Transportation Package for the transfer of high level radioactive waste from Whiteshell to Chalk River. What is the status of that application and what is the status of the transportation, including have shipments begun or when are they currently expected to begin? 

There was no answer or acknowledgement of this question during the webinar.

Given that this question refers in part to an application submitted to the CNSC, I would be grateful if you could provide an answer.

Thank you,

Ole Hendrickson

Researcher, Concerned Citizens of Renfrew County and Area