Following a two-part public hearing held on March 14, 2018 in Ottawa, Ontario and from May 28 to 31, 2018 in Kincardine, Ontario, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) announced, on September 27th, its decision to renew the Nuclear Power Reactor Operating Licence issued to Bruce Power Inc. (Bruce Power) for the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station (NGS) located in the Municipality of Kincardine, Ontario. The licence will be valid from October 1, 2018 until September 30, 2028. With this licence renewal, the Commission authorizes Bruce Power to undertake licensed activities related to the refurbishment of Bruce NGS units 3 to 8 through its planned major component replacement project. As this renewed licence takes effect before the expiry of the existing licence, PROL 18.00/2028 replaces PROL 18.00/2020.

With this decision, the Commission has authorized Bruce Power to operate the Bruce NGS up to a maximum of 300,000 equivalent full-power hours. The Commission also consolidates into the power reactor operating licence three nuclear substance and radiation device licences previously issued to Bruce Power, and concurrently revokes these licences.

In making its decision, the Commission considered submissions from Bruce Power and 149 intervenors, as well as CNSC staff's recommendations.

Bruce Power shall present a comprehensive mid-term update on its licensed activities at the Bruce NGS by 2023, during a public Commission meeting in the Kincardine area. Indigenous groups, members of the public and stakeholders will have the opportunity to intervene.

The Record of Decision is available on request to the Commission Secretariat. It will be posted in both official languages on the CNSC website at nuclearsafety.gc.ca at a later date. Hearing transcripts can be obtained on the CNSC website or by contacting the CNSC. The hearing webcast is available on the same site.

The CNSC regulates the use of nuclear energy and materials to protect health, safety, security and the environment; to implement Canada's international commitments on the peaceful use of nuclear energy; and to disseminate objective scientific, technical and regulatory information to the public.

Quick facts

• The CNSC requires nuclear power plants to conduct a full-scale emergency exercise every three years to test emergency response plans, decision-making functions, response capabilities and interoperability.

• The CNSC has implemented its Independent Environmental Monitoring Program to verify that the public and the environment around licensed nuclear facilities are protected.

• As part of the licensing conditions set out by the CNSC, a periodic safety review is conducted every 10 years at all Canadian nuclear power plants.