ARCHIVED - Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission

• Satisfaction levels of stakeholders across key performance areas
  • Target: Increasing trend in survey results over a three-year period, stable thereafter
• Number of legal challenges to the regulatory framework
  • Target: Minimal/declining number of challenges and/or high success rate of defending challenges

The CNSC’s regulatory framework consists of:

• Nuclear Safety and Control Act;
• international treaties for which the CNSC is identified as Canada’s competent authority, including the Agreement between the Government of Canada and the International Atomic Energy Agency for the Application of Safeguards in Connection with the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the additional protocol to that agreement, and bilateral Nuclear cooperation agreements
• regulations under the NSCA and those in support of the safeguards agreement
• licences, with conditions as imposed by the Commission
• guidance documents that explain the CNSC’s expectations with respect to meeting regulatory requirements and licence conditions

Funds are used to develop the regulatory framework, including the following key activities:

• maintaining an ongoing assessment of the Nuclear Safety and Control Act to ensure that it provides the CNSC with the regulatory and administrative authorities to carry out its responsibilities effectively and efficiently
• developing and amending regulations
• developing and publishing guidance documents

The CNSC also administers the Nuclear Liability Act and, as a responsible authority under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, carries out EAs for nuclear projects in accordance with this legislation.

• reviewing when and how the CNSC will exercise specific powers under legislation (primarily the NSCA);
• clarifying how the CNSC interprets the NSCA and regulations
• describing the principles underlying the CNSC’s approach, and/or giving practical advice (for example, describing the steps of a process such as applying for a licence or giving practical examples of how regulated entities may decide to meet their requirements)

• Number of licences and certificates issued as per service standards
  • Target: Meet external performance service standards

With this program activity’s funding, the CNSC obtains evidence of the applicant or licensee’s ability to operate safely and conform to nuclear safeguards and non-proliferation requirements.

The CNSC undertakes this work to ensure that nuclear activities and facilities in Canada are conducted with adequate provision to protect health, safety, and security of persons and the environment, and to fulfill commitments to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Bruce Power’s Bruce C Nuclear Power Plant in Tiverton (Municipality of Kincardine), ON

The project is for the site preparation, construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment of up to four new nuclear units at the existing Bruce Power site to generate up to 4,000 megawatts of electricity to the Ontario grid.

Milestones for the planning period include:

Review of Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and complete application for Licence to Prepare Site, including public review

Joint Review Panel (JRP) submits Report to Federal Government

The project is for the site preparation, construction and operation of a Deep Geologic Repository (DGR) for the proposed disposal of low- and intermediate-level radioactive wastes at the Bruce Site in Tiverton. The DGR will also hold waste produced from the continued operation of existing Bruce, Pickering and Darlington nuclear generating stations.

Milestones for the planning period include:

EIS guidelines and JRP Agreement published

The project is for the site preparation, construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment of up to four new nuclear units at the existing Darlington Site to generate up to 4,800 megawatts of electricity to the Ontario grid.

Milestones for the planning period include:

Appointment of JRP

Review of EIS including public review

Notice of public hearing

The project is for the site preparation, construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment of up to two new nuclear reactors at the Lake Erie Industrial Park, in Nanticoke to generate approximately 2,200 to 3,200 megawatts of electricity to the Ontario grid. The proposed site is located on the north shore of Lake Erie, in the Haldimand-Norfolk region of southern Ontario.

Milestones for the planning period include:

Draft EIS guidelines and JRP agreement published for comments

Final EIS guidelines and JRP agreement published

Appointment of JRP

Notice of review period on EIS and complete application for licence to prepare site

Review of EIS and complete application for licence to prepare site, including public review

• Fundamental barriers from a design point view to licensing the reactor in Canada

Milestones for the planning period include:

• EA guidelines for re-licensing to the Commission

• Environmental statement report

• CNSC decision on EA approval

• Frequency and severity rate of accidents
  • Target: Targets set on an annual work planning basis
• Number of events above zero on the International Nuclear Event Scale (INES)
  • Target: Zero events
• Degree/level of reconciliation between Canada and other countries with nuclear inventories subject to bilateral Nuclear Cooperation Agreements (NCAs)
  • Target: Targets set on an annual work planning basis as per Report on Plans and Priorities
• Adherence with Sealed Source Tracking requirements
  • Target: All on time: 100% match with registry
• Nuclear material “ledger” reconciliations between the CNSC and licensees
  • Target: Identical inventory records on reconciliation of nuclear material

Much of the compliance work is in the form of inspections of varying types. A Type I inspection is a systematic and documented process to determine, through objective evidence, whether a licensee program, process or practice complies with regulatory requirements; these inspections are similar to an audit or program evaluation. Type II inspections are planned and documented activities to verify the results of licensee processes and not the processes themselves. They are typically routine (item-by-item) inspections and rounds, usually of specified equipment, facility material systems, or of discrete records, products or outputs from licensee processes. A Desktop Review is the CNSC staff analysis of compliance reports submitted by licensees to evaluate if the licensee is complying with the requirements of the regulatory framework.

Typically, in a fiscal year, the CNSC will undertake approximately 100 Type I inspections, 1500 Type II inspections and countless desktop reviews.

• In 2009-10, the CNSC will emphasize performance management; employee development; assess feedback and issues raised in the Public Service Employee Survey; and continue to ensure that the CNSC solidifies its objectives as an “employer of choice”.

• The CNSC will implement a consistent inspection training program as a key priority in the Harmonized Plan.

• The CNSC will finalize its management training program (management fundamentals) and make the program mandatory for all managers. This program provides managers with training in key management areas, such as finance, human resources, planning, etc.

Specifically, IM/IT investments will support the following business drivers:

• Expand regulatory commitment tracking system to other program areas
• Facilitate stakeholder consultation and improve internal consultations
• Develop a system for receiving and processing secure online licensing and compliance transactions
• Improve the planning and reporting of financial information
• Improve external and internal communication and collaboration tools supporting our stakeholders and employees
• Robust business continuity capability

These investments include:

• installation of a suite of hardware and software tools that will support the phased development of highly interactive intranet and internet site services (Web 2.0) supporting online collaboration, communication and electronic filing services with our stakeholders

• a scalable and robust financial planning and reporting tool allowing CNSC to execute its Revenue Spending Authority (RSA).

• a framework of guidance and policy documents to support electronic filing activities for licensees, as well as ensuring effective management of information assets

• implementation of an alternate site that will support critical information systems

• improvements to infrastructure security in order to ensure an effective balance between enhanced electronic information exchange and accessibility; while ensuring continued safeguarding of information assets