HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAO 04-03
CitJ¡ o~
REPORT TO
COUNCIL
Report Number: CAD 04-03
Date: April 1, 2003
From:
Thomas J. Quinn
Chief Administrative Officer
Subject:
Pickering Nuclear Generating Stations A and B Operating License
Renewals
City of Pickering Comments for CNSC May 21, 2003 Day Two Hearing
File: RTC-04-03
Recommendation:
1.
That Report CAO 04-03 concerning Pickering Nuclear Generating Stations
(PNGS) A and B Operating License Renewals be received;
2.
That Council inform the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) that it
does not object to a five year license renewal for Pickering Nuclear Generation
Station B, providing the Commission requires a status report from CNSC staff at
the mid-point of the license period, and that the City of Pickering is given an
opportunity to review and comment to the Commission on the mid-license status
report;
3.
That Council inform the CNSC that it does not object to a two year license
renewal for Pickering Nuclear Generation Station A;
4.
That Report CAD 04-03 be forwarded to the Canadian Nuclear Safety
Commission, Ontario Power Generation, and the Canadian Association of
Nuclear Host Communities.
Executive Summary:
The operating licenses for Pickering Nuclear Generating Stations (PNGS) A and B
expire on June 30, 2003. Ontario Power Generation has applied to the Canadian
Nuclear Safety Commission for renewal of the two licenses and will appear before the
Commission at the Day Two Hearing on May 21 2003. The City of Pickering has an
opportunity to provide comments to cNSC on the license renewal applications. cNSc
staff have conducted an extensive review of PNGS-A and B as part of the license
renewal process and have provided favourable ratings for both facilities. CNSC staff
are recommending a five year license for PNGS-B and a two year license for PNGS-A.
City staff concur with the CNSC recommendation providing CNSC institutes a mid-point
license review with respect to the PNGS-B five year operating license.
Report CAO 04-03
April 1, 2003
Pickering Nuclear Generating Stations A and 8 Operating License Renewals
Page 2
Financial Implications:
Not applicable
Background:
The current Pickering Nuclear Generation Station (PNGS) A and 8 operating licenses
were issued by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) for twenty-seven
month terms th,at expire on June 30, 2003. Ontario Power Generation (OPG) has
therefore submitted license renewal requests and supporting materials to CNSC. OPG
also appeared before CNSC on February 27, 2003 for the Day One Hearing to present
its request for license renewals. CNSC staff also appeared at the Day One Hearing to
present its report on the operations of PNGS-A and 8 during the current license period.
CNSC staff supported OPG's license renewal request and recommended a two year
license for PNGS-A and a five year license for PNGS-8.
CNSC staff used nine major performance areas to evaluate the license renewal
applications. Each performance area was separately reviewed and assessed by
examining program design/content and implementation factors. Each area and sub-
area was ranked using a scale that ranged from "A" to "E." An "A" rating signified that
the performance area was assessed as "exceeding requirements" while "E" meant it
was "unacceptable."
The nine performance assessment areas used by CNSC staff are as follows:
1. Operating Performance,
2. Performance Assurance,
3. Design Adequacy,
4. Equipment Fitness for Service,
5. Emergency Preparedness,
6. Environmental Performance,
7. Radiation Protection,
8. Nuclear Security,
9. Safeguards.
Attachment 1 summarizes the overall performance ratings for both plants. An overall
"8" ranking was applied to both PNGS-A and 8's performances. PNGS-A's individual
ratings consisted of "A" and "8" assessments. 80th plant's scores were the same
except for the assignment of one "C" that was applied to PNGS-8's Performance
Assurance Program. CNSC staff also concluded in their report that overall
improvements have occurred at both facilities since the last license review was
conducted.
Report CAO 04-03
April 1, 2003
Pickering Nuclear Generating Stations A and B Operating License Renewals
Page 3
To arrive at their recommendation for a two year license for PNGS-A and a five year
license for PNGS-B, CNSC staff considered the following five conditions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Licensed activity is not expected to change,
Hazards are understood, impacts well predicted and within safety case,
Management structure and quality assurance program in place,
Effective compliance programs,
Good operating experience.
Using the five conditions, CNSC staff determined that PNGS-B was eligible for a five
year license because an affirmative answer to all five items was evident. Both CNSC
staff and OPG staff also supported the idea for longer license renewal periods by noting
that even at a five year term, such a license would still be less than licenses issued in
most nuclear jurisdictions which are often for periods of ten years and greater.
However, CNSC chose to only recommend a two year license for PNGS-A because in
relation Item 5, operating experience of the rehabilitated reactors is currently limited.
City staff concur with the five year license for PNGS-B providing the same condition that
City Council approved in January, 2003 for the Nuclear Waste Management FaciHty
license renewal is applied to the pending PNGS-B license. The City had suggested that
a mid-point license review would provide City Council and staff with an opportunity to
examine and comment on issues of concern. City staff have recently contacted both
OPG and CNSC staff and were informed that if the same mid-term review request was
made by the City, it would be favourably supported. Furthermore, OPG has agreed to
continue its regular effort at keeping the City informed of business at its Pickering sites.
CNSC had also proposed some increased opportunities for City staff to interact with
local CNSC staff and the commencement of periodic presentations to Council.
On May 21, 2003, OPG and CNSC staff will appear before the Commission at the Day
Two Hearing for the two license renewals. This Report and the related Council
resolution will be provided as input to the Commission in advance of that meeting. The
City also has the option of attending the Day Two Hearing in Ottawa to supplement this
written submission with a presentation to the Commission.
Attachments:
1.
Performance Areas Summaries for PNGS-A and B, excerpts from OPG March
24, 2003 presentation to Finance and Administration Committee, based on
CNSC documentation.
Report CAO 04-03
April 1 2003
Pickering Nuclear Generating Stations A and B Operating License Renewals
Page 4
Prepared By:
Approved I Endorsed By:
.'?'/(;¿ v1 // " ì
/ ,,/ /// ,--.-...-' Ji/
AL. (Joe) Hu'hwicks //
Emergency Response Coordinator
.~
~
----.--í /
,/ '/.:I'\
' j/'-¡
i'/ '-.."
Thomas E. Me ymuK """""-..
Division Head, Corporate Projects &"P'0Hyy
,....."'~.
"",
TJQ:alh
Attachments
Copy: Chief Administrative Officer
Division Head, Corporate Projects & Policy
K:\RTC-O4-03,doc
Recommended for the consideration of
Pickering City Council
. ,
B
B
B
B
A
B
A
B
A
B
C
B
B
A
B
B
B
A
71
~
~
71
~
~
-7
~
~
ONTARIOPûWER
GENERATION
8
8
B
B
A
B
B
B
A
71
~
~
71
~
~
~
~
~
ONTARIOPûiiiER
GENERATION