OPG’S DEEP GEOLOGICREPOSITORY PROJECTFor Low & Intermediate Level Waste

Safe and responsible long-term management

The Responsible Thing to DoNuclear has powered our province and made it one of the most prosperous in Canada for more than 40 years. One of the by-products of nuclear power is waste which includes components and materials used in the nuclear station that have become radioactive.

OPG has been safely storing these materials for over 40 years at the Western Waste Management Facility in Bruce County, the site of the proposed DGR. OPG could continue storing the waste safely above ground but we have an obligation to those future generations to dispose of this waste safely where it cannot pose a threat to the public or the environment.

The project proposed by OPG is to construct and operate a deep geologic disposal facility on the secure Bruce nuclear site within the Municipality of Kincardine. The DGR will safely isolate and contain low and intermediate level waste deep underground ensuring protection of water and the environment. It will be buried 680 metres in stable rock formations that are over 450 million years old. Most of the waste, which is low level, will decay in 300 years. A small amount will be radioactive for over 100,000 years. The rock will limit movement of any radioactivity to less than one metre every thousand years.

Protecting the EnvironmentExperts agree, it’s the responsible choice and reflects international best practice. A team of geologists, engineers, hydrologists and many others have studied the project for many years. Studies show no significant adverse impact to the environment or the public will occur. A joint review panel appointed by both the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission submitted an Environmental Assessment Report for government review with the same conclusions.

The DGR ProjectThe DGR would be designed to safely manage and isolate low and intermediate waste from OPG-owned nuclear generating stations at Bruce, Pickering and Darlington. Low-level radioactive waste consists of industrial items that have become contaminated during routine clean-up and maintenance activities at nuclear generating stations. Intermediate-level radioactive waste consists primarily of reactor components and resins and filters used to purify reactor water systems. Used nuclear fuel will not be stored or managed in the DGR.

MAXIMUM DEPTH OF POTABLE GR OUNDWATER ~100 m

MAXIMUM LAKE DEPTH: ~200 m

NIAGARAESCARPMENT

BEAVERVALLEY

TEXACO WELL

BRUCE SITE

Lake Huron

Sea level

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

50km 40 30 20 10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110800m

-500

-400

-300

-200

-100

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2

3

Fresh, slightly mineralizedPermeable

Shallow(5 to 100 m)��

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Mineralized, sulfurous, with moderate to lowpermeability

Intermediate(100 - 400 m) ��

3

SalineExtremely low permeability

Deep(400 m +) ����

BEDROCK TYPES

GROUNDWATER TYPES

OverburdenLimestone/dolostone/shale

Dolostone/shaleDolostoneRed shale

Grey shaleLimestoneGranitic gneiss

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DEEP GEOLOGIC REPOSITORY

680 m

BRUCE SITE

DEEP GEOLOGIC REPOSITORY

680 m

BRUCE SITE

450 million-year-old

stable rock

The CN Towerfor a comparison

Lake Huron

Georgian Bay

Lake Huron

CROSS SECTION

BruceNuclearSite

Kincardine

London

Kitchener

Walkerton

Goderich

Durham

Owen Sound

Port Elgin

Southhampton

Wiarton

Georgian Bay

Lake Huron

CROSS SECTIONBruceNuclearSite

Kincardine

London

Kitchener

Walkerton

Goderich

Durham

Owen Sound

Port ElginSouthhampton

Wiarton

DEEPGEOLOGICREPOSITORY

MURAT YÜKSELIR/THE GLOBE AND MAIL �� SOURCE: ONTARIO POWER GENERATION VERTICAL EXAGGERATION = 50

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Image credit Globe & Mail

Federal Review Process and ParticipationThe Joint Review Panel (JRP) for the DGR project held public hearings in 2013 and 2014 lasting over 33 days. The public hearings gave participants, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) and OPG the opportunity to hear about the project and its potential environmental effects and provide their views. The JRP closed the public registry, on November 18, 2014, to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) report.

On May 6, 2015, the JRP issued the Environmental Assessment (EA) Report to the federal Minister of the Environment. The Panel’s report concluded “that the project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.“

• The DGR should be built now rather than later• There is a strong safety case for the DGR• The Bruce Nuclear site is appropriate• Public health and safety will be protected• The DGR project will not affect Lake Huron

The recommendation confirms the DGR will safely isolate and contain the waste deep underground, ensuring the Great Lakes and the environment would remain protected for many thousands of years.

The Joint Panel’s report comes after more than 14 years of study, consultation and the most comprehensive and science-based nuclear waste storage review in Canadian history.

On June 3, 2015 the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) announced a 90 day public comment period. Aboriginal groups, the public and registered participants were given by Sept. 2015 to comment on potential conditions, mitigation measures and follow-up programs. On Feb. 18, 2016 the Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change requested OPG conduct three further technical, environmental and economic studies into its proposed DGR, suspending the EA process. OPG will provide an updated analysis on combined environmental effects for both OPG’s DGR and a used fuel repository; a study on alternate sites; and an updated list of OPG’s commitments. The work is expected to be completed in 2016.

On approval of the EA, the JRP would make a decision on the application for a licence to prepare the site and construct the DGR. The CNSC would be responsible for compliance monitoring of the licence and OPG would be responsible for implementing the terms and conditions of the licence. Once constructed, OPG would apply for an operating licence which would be reviewed and heard by the CNSC commission at a public hearing.

To learn more:Ontario Power Generation: www.opg.com/dgrCanadian Environmental Assessment Agency (file # 17520): www.ceaa.gc.ca

OPG’S DEEP GEOLOGICREPOSITORY PROJECTFor Low & Intermediate Level Waste

Protecting the Public and the Environment

• Waste is located 1.2 km from the closest point of Lake Huron

• Located in 450 million year-old stable rock in a seismically quiet area

• Safe isolation now and for the long-term

• 90 per cent of stored waste is low-level

• Most of the waste is already stored above ground at the site

• Experts and the Joint Review Panel agree it is the responsible choice

• Based on international best practice

• A willing and supportive Kincardine community

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Bruce A

Bruce B

WWMFDGRDGR

WWMF

Bruce A

Bruce B

Lake Huron

Safe and responsible long-term management

Design by OPG Office Services 04 2016.