New Nuclear at Darlington Environmental Assessment

Laurie Swami, Director of Licensing, Nuclear Generation DevelopmentOctober 28, 2008

New Nuclear at Darlington Environmental Assessment Update toPickering Community Advisory Council

2 Contents

Tonight’s presentation will cover New Nuclear at Darlington:

The Project

• Roles, Responsibilities, Milestones

Environmental Assessment

• Project Assumptions & Layouts

• Project – Environment Interactions

2 Contents

Environmental Assessment (cont’d)

• Cumulative Effects

• Significance Criteria

Public Consultations

• What We Are Hearing

• Current Activities

Pickering B EA Update

3Describe the Project:

Phases3 The Project - Roles and Responsibilities

The Project To construct and operate a new

nuclear power plant at the existing Darlington site to meet the base-load electricity requirements of Ontario

Ontario Power Generation (OPG) Is responsible for the federal

approvals - an environmental assessment (EA) & site preparation licence

The EA and licence application are for Up to four nuclear units

Up to 4,800 MW of electrical capacity

The EA must be completed before the site preparation licence can be issued

A federally appointed joint review panel will review the EA and licence application

OPG will be the operator for the new nuclear units at the Darlington site

4Describe the Project:

Phases4 The Project - Roles and Responsibilities

Infrastructure Ontario Leading a competitive process to select a nuclear reactor vendor to

construct two units and potentially additional units

Three internationally recognized vendors participating: Areva NP - US Evolutionary Pressurized Reactor (1600 MW)

Atomic Energy of Canada Limited – ACR1000 Advanced CANDU Reactor (1200 MW)

Westinghouse Electric Company – AP1000 nuclear power plant (1000 MW)

End of 2008: Deadline for Phase 2 Submission

2009: Preferred Vendor Selected

The Vendor will:

Be responsible for construction, including hiring, purchasing, etc.

Turn the reactors over to OPG when they are ready to begin operations

5 Upcoming Community Information Sessions

OPG asked to begin federal approvals process for new nuclear

Initial Site Preparation Licence – submitted Sept. 2006

Project Description – submitted April 2007

Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency/Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission

Determined that a Joint Review Panel will be established to review the documents

Released for public review on September 4, 2008 Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Guidelines

Draft Panel Agreement and Terms of Reference

Comments due November 19, 2008

OPG

Submits EIS and Site Preparation Licence Application, once guidelines are finalized

Joint Review Panel

Undertakes Public/Technical Review; Holds Public Hearing

Issues Report to Federal Minister of the Environment

5 The Project – Roles and Responsibilities

6 Darlington New Build Project Description6 Major/Indicative Milestones

7

7

Elements in the Environmental Assessment

OPG has completed

baseline data collection for most of the areas of study

↓

We are currently looking at project –

environment interactions

↓

All of this will be documented in the

environmental assessment

8 The Project – Principle Buildings & Structures

9 The Project - Conceptual Plant Layouts Conceptual layouts

developed to provide for principle buildings and structures

All provide for: Site access

Switchyard Expansion

Parking, Construction Facilities

Soil Stockpiles, Lake fill, Land fill

Used Fuel & Nuclear Waste Storage

Layout 1: 4 reactors and once through lake water cooling

10 Conceptual Site Layouts

Layout 2 has mechanical draft cooling towers and two reactor units

Mechanical draft cooling towers Main heat transfer to atmosphere

Structure minimally visible off-site

Very large land area required

↓

Layout 3 has natural draft cooling towers and two reactor units

Natural draft cooling towers

Main heat transfer to atmosphere

Structure highly visible off-site

Large land area required

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Project DescriptionBounding EA Timelines/Temporal Boundaries

The dates shown are for EA study purposes. Actual start and in service dates have yet to be determined

12 Site Preparation

Timeline:

Approximately two years

Workforce

Up to 400 (100 on-site; 300 off-site)

Activities Include:

Mobilization

Vegetation Removal/Earthmoving

Soil/Rock Management

• up to 12 million cubic metres

Infrastructure installation

13 Construction

Timeline:

Approximately six to eight years for two units

Workforce:

Up to 3,500 peak workforce for two units

On-site parking

Off-site parking may be used within five km of Darlington site, bus shuttles to transport workers

Activities Include:

Installation

Reactor block, turbine generator, cooling system

Construction Waste Management

Marine/Road/Rail Considerations

Concrete Supply

14 Operations

Workforce & Procurement:

Up to 1,400 per year for each set of two units

Mid-Life Replacement or Refurbishment - peak workforce approx. 2,000

Procurement patterns similar to current Darlington

Activities Include:

Reactor Commissioning

Safe plant operations

Waste/Used Fuel transfer

Mid-life major component replacement and/or refurbishment

Timeline:

Approximately 60 operating years for each set of reactors (2016-2100)

15 Project – Environment Interactions Matrix

Component

Potential Interaction

Site Preparation

Construction Operation Decom-missioning

Aboriginal Interests *Aquatic Biota, Surface Water * * *Atmosphere * * *Geology, Hydrogeology, Seismicity

* * * *

Human Health * * *Hydrology & Surface Water * * *Land Use and Transportation * *Physical & Cultural Heritage *Radiation and Radioactivity * *Socio-economic Conditions * * * *Terrestrial * *

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Potential Environment Effects Atmospheric Environment

Atmospheric Environment

Air quality; noise

Examples of Potential Effects

During site preparation & construction phases:

• Off-site dust and vehicle exhaust emission

• Increased noise from traffic and equipment

Dust and noise levels return to low levels during plant operation

Localized fogging and icing from mechanical draft cooling towers (if used)

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Potential Mitigation Measures Atmospheric Environment

Potential Mitigation Measures

Dust management plan for site preparation and construction phases, assumed to include:

Watering for dust control

Paved versus unpaved roads

Different aggregate grades for road construction

Slope stabilization (e.g. hydro seeding)

Noise Ensure construction equipment is

well maintained

Proactive communication with community

Vehicle operating restrictions

Off-site dust / vehicle exhaust/ noise effects

• Routine monitoring and notification

18 Projects to Consider in Cumulative Effects Projects to Consider in Cumulative Effects Cumulative Effects Assessment18

19 Cumulative Effects Assessment

Projects

407 East Extension

Region of Durham Energy from Waste Facility

Development within Clarington Energy Park

Oshawa Ethanol plant

St. Marys Alternative Fuels Project

Pickering Airport

Refurbishment of existing Darlington Nuclear Generating Station

Future 401 widening

Studies and Plans

Durham Region Water and Wastewater Master Servicing Strategy

20 Significance of Residual Environmental Effects

Criteria typically include:

Magnitude of effect

Geographical extent of the effect

Timing, duration, and frequency of the effect

Degree to which effects are reversible or

mitigable

Ecological and social/cultural context

Probability of occurrence

Existing regulatory and industry standards are used as points of reference.

Professional expertise and judgment are also applied.

21 Feedback We’ve Received

Community Information Sessions

600 visitors to date

Most Important Environmental Features are:

Drinking and lake water quality

Atmospheric environment, air quality

Human health considerations

Nuclear emergency infrastructure and preparedness

Transportation system safety and road traffic volumes & safety

22 Feedback We’ve Received

Community Kiosk:

500 visitors

Benefits the project will bring to the area

• How to secure employment

Importance/Value of the Kiosk

Timing of Key Events

• When will construction, operations start?

• When will decisions be made?

Community Events/Displays

5,000 visitors

50% of the comments:

• Nature of the EA studies, Strong project support

50% beyond OPG’s responsibility:

• Vendor selection, Ontario’s electricity system, etc.

23 Upcoming Community Information Sessions

Community Information Sessions Round #4 Bowmanville Tuesday, October 21

Port Hope Wednesday, October 22

Oshawa Thursday, October 23

Newcastle Tuesday, October 28

Lindsay Wednesday, October 29

Orono Thursday, October 30

Courtice Tuesday, November 4

Ajax Thursday, November 6

We will be seeking comments/input on Mitigation measures to address potential effects of the

project

Cumulative effects between new nuclear and other community projects

Criteria to assess significance of effects

23 Public Consultation Fall 2008

24 Contact Us24 Pickering B Refurbishment & Continued Operations EA

OPG Submitted the Pickering B Refurbishment and Continued Operations Environmental Assessment Study Report to the CNSC

December 2007

Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC)

Released Draft Screening Report for Public Review - July 24 2008

Held two Public Information Sessions – July/August 2008

Public Comment Period Closed - September 4 2008

Released Notice of Public Hearing – October 7, 2008

Next Steps

Public/Interveners to submit Notice of Participation to CNSC – November 10, 2008

CNSC Hearing – December 10, 2008, Ajax Convention Centre

We encourage all to participate in the CNSC Review process

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www.opg.com/newbuild

1-866-487-6006

Contact Us25 Contact Us