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The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission has a single strategic outcome: to ensure safe and secure nuclear installations and processes that are used solely for peaceful purposes; and public confidence in the nuclear regulatory regime’s effectiveness. To support this outcome, the CNSC has one program activity: nuclear regulation.
Within the nuclear regulation program activity, the CNSC has five program sub-activities, each with a distinct expected result. These program sub-activities represent key program areas for the CNSC to achieve the priorities identified in Section I, the expected results of its program activity, and the organization’s strategic outcome.
The CNSC’s program activity architecture is presented diagrammatically below.
The program sub-activities, their expected results, plans, performance indicators, and planned spending are presented in the following tables.
Program Sub-Activity: |
Regulatory Framework | |||
Expected Result: |
A clear and pragmatic regulatory framework | |||
Performance Indicators:
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Description: Development of a modern, evergreen, Canadian regulatory regime that considers all available science, the CNSC’s external environment, operating experience and input of Canadian operators, other stakeholders and the international community. This involves developing new and amending existing CNSC regulations; and creating regulatory documents that set out the CNSC’s regulatory criteria and expectations of staff. | ||||
Plans/Initiatives |
Timeline | |||
Obtain Commission approval for a 3-year plan of integrated regulatory framework initiatives |
Fall 2008 | |||
Complete the amendments to the Class II Nuclear Facilities and Prescribed Equipment Regulations, and develop the supporting regulatory documents. |
2008-2009 | |||
Complete the amendments to the Nuclear Substances and Radiation Devices Regulations, and develop the supporting regulatory documents. |
2008-2009 | |||
Establish new or amended bilateral Administrative Agreements with regulatory counterparts to implement bilateral Nuclear Cooperation Agreements (South Africa, Jordan, Kasakhstan, Euratom, USA, Korea). |
2008-2009 | |||
Complete the amendments to the Class II Nuclear Facilities and Prescribed Equipment Regulations (Radiation Safety Officer) to provide for the certification and decertification of Radiation Safety Officers, and develop the supporting regulatory documents. |
2008-2010 | |||
Amend the Class I Nuclear Facilities Regulations, to set out requirements for new nuclear power plants and update the requirements for other major facilities, and develop the supporting regulatory documents. |
2008-2010 | |||
Amend the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission Rules of Procedure and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission By-laws. |
2008-2010 | |||
Amend the Packaging and Transport of Nuclear Substances Regulations to comply with the most recent version of IAEA standards in this area, and develop the supporting regulatory documents. |
2010-2012 | |||
Develop new Nuclear Safeguards Regulations, based on the IAEA-Canada Safeguards Agreement and Additional Protocol, and develop the supporting regulatory documents. |
2010-2012 | |||
Resources: |
2008-2009 |
2009-2010 |
2010-2011 |
Program Sub-Activity: |
Licensing and Certification | ||
Expected Result: |
Individuals and organizations that operate safely and conform to safeguards and non-proliferation requirements | ||
Performance Indicators:
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Description: Issuance of licences or certifying persons to conduct nuclear-related activities in Canada. In order to issue a licence or a certificate, the CNSC must obtain evidence of licensee ability to operate safely and conform to safeguards and non-proliferation obligations. | |||
Plans/Initiatives |
Timeline | ||
Implement processes for licensing new nuclear facilities including new nuclear power plants, new uranium mines and new waste management facilities. |
2008-2010 | ||
Develop and implement the management response to the lessons-learned from the National Research Universal (NRU) reactor shutdown in November 2007. |
2008-2009 | ||
Complete documentation of the CNSC’s Environmental Assessment and oversight programs, and incorporate identified program improvements. |
2008-2009 | ||
Develop Environmental Assessment training modules and initiate training for CNSC staff. |
2008-2009 | ||
Prepare review plans and review guides for environmental impact statements and new reactor licence applications. |
2008-2010 | ||
Conduct environmental assessments to respond to licence applications for new mines, new reactor construction (see Figure 1), refineries, waste repositories and Chalk River Laboratories legacy projects. |
Ongoing | ||
Conduct assessments of licence applications for new reactor site preparation and construction. |
Ongoing | ||
Implement further the provisions of the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources, including initiatives to strengthen export/import licensing and control of risk significant sources. |
Ongoing | ||
Evaluate the tribunal process and implement recommendations. |
Ongoing | ||
Resources: |
2008-2009 |
2009-2010 |
2010-2011 |
Figure 1: Planned Environmental Assessments (EA) to Respond to Licence Applications |
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Program Sub-Activity: |
Compliance | |||
Expected Result: |
A high level of compliance with the regulatory framework | |||
Performance Indicators:
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Description: Effective oversight of compliance with regulatory requirements, which is critical to assuring Parliament and the Canadian public that nuclear energy and materials are being used safely and securely and in a manner that respects Canada’s international commitments concerning their peaceful use. | ||||
Plans/Initiatives |
Timeline | |||
Execute baseline compliance program requirements across the four regulatory programs (power reactors; nuclear cycle, waste, research and processing facilities; nuclear substances, transport, dosimetry, Class II nuclear facilities; and import/export controls). |
Ongoing | |||
Develop strategies to promote/enforce compliance where licensee deficiencies have been identified and respond to risk significant licensee reports and findings. |
Ongoing | |||
Develop a program to assess licensee management of ageing nuclear facilities. |
Ongoing | |||
Apply the requirements of multilateral conventions and arrangements. |
Ongoing | |||
Implement the provisions and requirements of bilateral nuclear cooperation agreements and associated administration arrangements. |
Ongoing | |||
Implement the requirements of the Canada-IAEA Safeguards Agreement and Additional Protocol. |
Ongoing | |||
Resources: |
2008-2009 |
2009-2010 |
2010-2011 |
Program Sub-Activity: |
Cooperative Undertakings | |||
Expected Result: |
CNSC cooperates and integrates its activities in national/international nuclear fora. | |||
Performance Indicators:
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Description: Involvement with domestic and international nuclear organizations, promoting Canadian interests, implementing requirements of international obligations and commitments, and evaluating international recommendations, standards and guides for adoption in the CNSC’s regulatory framework. | ||||
Plans/Initiatives |
Timeline | |||
Negotiate new agreements with other federal government departments and appropriate provinces. |
By 2009: New agreements in place with Health Canada, Transport Canada, Public Safety Canada, Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick | |||
Establish and review cooperative arrangements with foreign nuclear regulators, and federal and provincial organizations, departments and agencies on an ongoing basis. |
Ongoing | |||
Conduct annual reviews of cooperative arrangements with foreign regulatory counterparts and international organizations. |
Annual | |||
Collaborate with Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada on nuclear non-proliferation issues, including establishment of new or amended bilateral NCAs. |
Ongoing | |||
Determine, evaluate, track and report the CNSC’s participation in international activities on nuclear matters. |
Ongoing | |||
Establish bilateral arrangements with regulatory counterparts to efficiently implement radioactive source import/export controls, pursuant to the International Atomic Energy Agency Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources |
2008-2009: Japan, United Kingdom, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, India | |||
Provide technical support and other resources necessary to the IAEA’s safeguards program. |
Ongoing | |||
Resources: |
2008-2009 |
2009-2010 |
2010-2011 |
Program Sub-Activity: |
Stakeholder Relations | |||
Expected Result: |
Increased stakeholder understanding of the regulatory program | |||
Performance Indicators:
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Description: Regular meetings with industry groups and non-government organizations on matters related to the administration of the regulatory regime; outreach to communities hosting nuclear facilities; presentations and speeches at conferences and other fora; media relations; and provision of information to the public on regulatory matters. | ||||
Plans/Initiatives |
Timeline | |||
Develop and implement stakeholder communication strategy for CNSC’s regulatory framework. |
2008-2011 | |||
Develop and implement outreach/communications strategies to reach diverse stakeholders, including media and select communities most affected by nuclear facilities, concerning the licensing and compliance of: new and refurbished nuclear power reactors on existing and new sites; new uranium fuel processing facilities; new uranium mines and mills in Canada; and new nuclear medicine facilities, substances and devices. (Strategies would need to be based on applications received for new nuclear activity). |
2008-2011 | |||
Track and communicate key outcomes of CNSC’s compliance oversight program to stakeholders, including the media and communities most affected by compliance assessments, to demonstrate transparency and application of safety measures. |
2008-2011 | |||
Identify and profile CNSC’s key national and international participation and co-operative undertakings/activities to stakeholders including media. |
2008-2011 | |||
Consult with Aboriginal communities (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) regarding the potential impacts of nuclear projects, including nuclear power plants, uranium mines and mills and nuclear waste management facilities, on their Aboriginal rights or title (the duty to consult can be triggered by a variety of CNSC regulatory matters). |
2008-2011 | |||
Resources: |
2008-2009 |
2009-2010 |
2010-2011 |