EA report on Zircatec fuel plan recommended for acceptance

subscribe

Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) staff have recommended the Environmental Assessment (EA) Screening Report for proposed slightly enriched uranium (with BDU) CANDU fuel production at Port Hope's Zircatec Precision Industries Inc. be accepted.

"It's certainly a milestone event in the project," said Doug Prendergast of Zircatec; the report went before the CNSC in Oshawa Wednesday. "It's clearly a big step and we're now awaiting the commission decision."

If the EA is accepted, Zircatec will begin to prepare for a licence amendment hearing to allow Zircatec to begin production.

"Zircatec expects to be before the CNSC sometime this year - by May at the earliest, for a licence amendment," said Mr. Prendergast. "Production of the new lines would begin in 2010."

The licence amendment would only proceed if the EA is accepted, he said.

Port Hope residents Sanford and Helen Anne Haskill, who attended the hearing, were pleased with the results.

"I think on the whole it was a very interesting meeting," said Mr. Haskill. "It was good for everybody."

As part of his presentation, Mr. Haskill asked that some sort of buffer zone be placed at the western edge of the Zircatec property. "All there is, is a chain link fence there," he said.

Mr. Haskill added that monitoring wells across and beyond the property boundaries were showing contamination.

Mr. Prendergast said contamination was found in the monitoring wells near the waste storage area at the Zircatec building's northeast end during the licence application process in the late summer of 2006.

"This is clearly not news as it was discussed at length during the 2006 licensing hearings," said Mr. Prendergast. "Ongoing monitoring shows that levels are not rising so ongoing operations are not contributing."

Zircatec, he added, is confident the contamination is historical and that it's been delineated.

Related News

russia-and-ukraine-accuse-each-other-of-violating-energy-ceasefire

Russia and Ukraine Accuse Each Other of Violating Energy Ceasefire

MOSCOW - Russia and Ukraine have traded fresh accusations regarding violations of a fragile energy ceasefire, brokered by the United States, which both sides had agreed to last month. These new allegations highlight the ongoing tensions between the two nations and the challenges involved in implementing a truce, especially in such a complex and volatile conflict.

The U.S.-brokered ceasefire had initially aimed to reduce the intensity of the fighting, specifically in the energy sector, where both sides had previously targeted each other’s infrastructure. Despite this agreement, the accusations on Wednesday suggest that both Russia and Ukraine have continued their attacks…

READ MORE
solar power from space

How to Get Solar Power on a Rainy Day? Beam It From Space

READ MORE

miami-valley-expands-ev-infrastructure-with-24-new-chargers

Miami Valley Expands EV Infrastructure with 24 New Chargers

READ MORE

power lines

Nearly $1 Trillion in Investments Estimated by 2030 as Power Sector Transitions to a More Decarbonized and Flexible System

READ MORE

Ireland announces package of measures to secure electricity supplies

READ MORE