CNL plans to decommission the Gentilly-1 Waste Management Facility. CNL will first request approval from the CNSC to undertake the work. This process will include opportunities for the public and Indigenous nations, communities, and organizations to provide input on CNL’s plans.
CNL submitted an application on July 17, 2024, to the CNSC to amend the current licence for the facility to permit decommissioning.
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) has announced a public hearing in writing for July 2026 to consider CNL’s application to amend the Waste Facility Decommissioning Licence (WFDL) for the Gentilly-1 Waste Facility. The amendment would authorize CNL to proceed with decommissioning all remaining buildings and structures at the site to achieve a brownfield end state. The CNSC will also assess the potential for significant adverse environmental effects under the Impact Assessment Act as part of the decision process. Participant funding of up to $75,000 is available to support Indigenous Nations, communities, and other interested parties in preparing interventions. The deadline to apply for funding is July 11, 2025, and the deadline to request to intervene is June 17, 2026. A decision is expected in summer 2026.
For further information, you can refer to the official CNSC document: Notice of hearing in writing and participant funding
Once the necessary approvals are in place, the reactor, which has been in safe storage since 1978, will be carefully dismantled and the resulting waste streams properly managed.
