In the Community

CNL is committed to developing and maintaining solid, long-term relationships with all of our stakeholders. These include the local communities where we work, the companies we do business with, as well as the public at large. We are committed to communicating in a timely manner and exchanging information and we recognize the importance of listening to our stakeholders and working with them to resolve their concerns. Only through the strong support of our communities will we be able to supply our customers with the nuclear science and technology services they need, while contributing to a strong economy, a clean environment and a healthy society.

Items of Public Interest and Strategic Importance

CNL’s Public Information Program is intended to cover public activities that occur at CNL. It has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) Regulatory Document RD/GD-3.2.1: Public Information and Disclosure published in 2018.

As a corporation, CNL makes it a priority to build public awareness, understanding, and a supportive appreciation of CNL’s value and relevance to Canadians. CNL works to ensure that the general public, surrounding communities, news media, supply chain and other stakeholders such as industry and academia are informed about the ongoing activities at all CNL sites (Chalk River Laboratories, Whiteshell Laboratories and Prototype Reactor Sites).

To this end CNL provides a variety of updates through social media and through www.CNL.ca at the News and Publications page.

Stay in touch!

Press releases and announcements

Community Information Bulletins

Canadian Nuclear Review

Newsletters and Publications

Event Reports

Performance Reporting

Public Disclosure Guidelines

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) is committed to maintaining a public information program that includes public access to information related to routine radiological and non-radiological emissions, and non-routine items or events at Chalk River Laboratories, Prototype Reactor Sites and Whiteshell Laboratories. CNL manages this access through its Public Disclosure process. Listed below are guidelines for information distribution for the following licences held by CNL:

Nuclear Research and Test Establishment Operating Licence (Chalk River Laboratories),
Nuclear Research and Test Establishment Decommissioning Licence (Whiteshell Laboratories), and,
The Prototype Waste Facilities Licence (Prototype Reactor sites).

For all sites the primary means for reporting non-routine items or events is CNL’s external website, www.cnl.ca, while key local officials and stakeholders may be notified through direct contact. The reporting timeframe for disclosure items is typically within four business days; however, CNL balances between securing reliable information and ensuring the public and stakeholders are kept informed.

Public Disclosure Guidelines: Chalk River Laboratories

Criteria for Public Disclosure

1. The licensee shall provide the following routine emissions information to the public:

airborne emissions of Ar-41 (NRU stack), updated quarterly with monthly results;
airborne emissions of NOx and SOx (powerhouse stack), updated quarterly;
airborne emissions of tritium (NRU stack), updated quarterly; and
waterborne emissions of tritium (process sewer), updated quarterly.

Routine emissions information will be reported through CNL’s external website, www.cnl.ca, and updated as necessary. Posting will have a one period lag (i.e., no more than two months, preferably one month for Ar-41, and one quarter for others) to allow for processing of the samples, preparation of the information, and verification of the report.

2. The licensee shall periodically review and update the routine emissions report to reflect operational changes and feedback from interested stakeholders.

3. The licensee shall provide information to the public regarding non-routine items or events as specified below:

Exceeding the action levels of the following radiological emissions:
- I.Argon-41 (air);
- II.Carbon-14 (air);
- III.Tritium (air);
- IV.Iodine-131 (air);
- V.Mixed Noble Gases (air);
- VI.Tritium (liquid);
- VII.Gross Alpha (liquid); and
- VIII.Gross Beta (liquid).
Exceeding an action level for any other radiological emissions not specified in Section 3a, where it also exceeds 0.1% of the derived release limit.
Exceeding the release limits for the following non-radiological liquid emissions from the Process Outfall:
- I.pH.
Unrecoverable loss of more than 10 kg of heavy water per day from the NRU Reactor;
Loss of refrigerant as listed under the Federal Halocarbon Regulations greater than 100 kg;
Significant interruption of isotope production and supply;
Other events that could have offsite effects or result in media attention including fires, earthquakes, serious vehicle or industrial accidents, and significant business developments.
Quarterly updates of event reports to the public through website.

An unrecoverable loss of heavy water implies release to the environment which may cause public concern.

4. Environmental and Performance Reporting

In addition to quarterly reporting and posting of “routine emissions”, noted in section one (1) above, CNL also prepares and posts an Annual Safety Report summarizing Environmental Monitoring for the Chalk River Laboratories.

This report reviews and summarizes the results of the Chalk River Laboratories (CRL) Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP) for a specified calendar year. CNL reports the monitoring results annually to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). The report is made available to the public.

These environmental performance reports are available via the Performance Reporting page found at www.CNL.ca.

Public Disclosure Guidelines: Whiteshell Laboratories

Criteria for Public Disclosure:

1. The licensee shall provide the following routine emissions information to the public:

airborne emissions, updated semi-annually;
airborne emissions of NOx and SOx, updated annually.

2. The licensee shall periodically review and update the routine emissions report to reflect operational changes and feedback from interested stakeholders.

3. The licensee shall provide information to the public regarding non-routine items or events as specified below:

Loss of refrigerant as listed under the Federal Halocarbon Regulations greater than 100 kg;
Other events that could have offsite effects or result in media attention including fires, serious vehicle or industrial accidents, and significant business developments;

4. Environmental and Performance Reporting

In addition to reporting and posting of “routine emissions”, noted in section one (2) above, CNL also prepares and posts an Annual Safety Report summary on annual performance data versus fourteen (14) separate “Safety and Control Areas” for the Whiteshell Laboratories.

This report reviews and summarizes the results of the Whiteshell Laboratories’ annual performance data. CNL reports the summary results annually to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). The report is made available to the public.

These Whiteshell Laboratories’ performance reports are available via the Performance Reporting page found at www.CNL.ca.

Public Disclosure Guidelines: Prototype Reactor Sites

Criteria for Public Disclosure:

1. The licensee shall provide information to the public regarding non-routine items or events where:

Loss of refrigerant as listed under the Federal Halocarbon Regulations greater than 100 kg;
Other events that could have offsite effects or result in media attention including fires, earthquakes, serious vehicle or industrial accidents, and significant site-related business developments.

Public Disclosure guidelines for each Prototype Reactor site will be reviewed prior to starting any physical decommissioning work.

2. Environmental and Performance Reporting

An annual compliance report is prepared and summarizes present status of the Prototype Waste Facilities and notable activities conducted within these facilities for a specific calendar year reporting period. The summary includes results of operations, the results of monitoring programs, changes made to key procedures, equipment, or structures, as well as a summary of reports made pursuant to Sections 29 and 30 of the General Nuclear Safety and Control Regulations.

The current year Annual Compliance Report for Prototype Waste Facilities and a NPD specific report (Summary of Effluent and Environmental Monitoring as the Nuclear Power Demonstration Waste Facility) are available on the Performance Reporting page.

Public Information Program

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Contact us!

For more information on any aspect of CNL’s involvement in our local communities across the country, please contact our Corporate Communications Officer at [email protected] or 1- 800-364-6989.