SASKATOON — The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission says it will conduct an exhaustive, multi-layered review before rendering a decision on a major nuclear development such as NexGen Energy’s uranium mining project in the Athabasca region.
The CNSC is an independent regulatory tribunal tasked with overseeing the nuclear industry in the country, ensuring responsible mining practices, the safety of Canadians and the environment, issuing licences for nuclear facilities and making other nuclear licensing decisions.
It is independent of government and industry influence. It is also independent of CNSC staff, who provide expert advice to the commission to inform its decisions, along with other input received through the hearing process, preserving the commission’s decision-making independence.
The CNSC, in an email to SaskToday, said the independent commission reviews the analysis and recommendations compiled by its staff based on information provided by the applicant, such as NexGen, as well as materials and presentations received through interventions.
The CNSC added that its staff are technical experts, scientists and engineers who review every aspect of a proposed project, including water and waste management, radiation protection, emergency preparedness and ongoing environmental monitoring, to ensure it meets strict regulatory criteria.
“They then present their recommendations to the commission as part of the public hearing process. The commission will only issue a license if NexGen can prove to the commission’s satisfaction that it can carry out the project safely,” said the statement.
The commission, once satisfied that all necessary information has been analyzed and collected, may render a decision. For two-part hearings, the CNSC’s service standard is to release a decision within 120 days of the record closing.
“In applications like NexGen’s, the commission’s central test is safety. A licence will only be issued if the applicant can demonstrate, to the commission’s satisfaction, that the project can be carried out safely over its full lifecycle. Several sources inform that determination,” said the CNSC.
“However, staff advice is only one component of the record. The commission also weighs evidence submitted by the applicant, along with oral and written submissions from intervenors, including members of the public and Indigenous communities.”
The CNSC added that among the key concerns raised during the four-day hearing are Indigenous consultation, impacts on land and water, tailings management, NexGen’s regulatory compliance history and decommissioning plans.
The CNSC will publish the record outlining its ruling and explaining how it considered evidence, staff analysis and public input. It follows a clear mandate that no licence is granted unless applicants, such as NexGen Energy, can conclusively demonstrate that their project meets Canada’s stringent nuclear safety and environmental protection requirements.
