New Nuclear at Darlington Environmental Assessment
Laurie Swami, Director of Licensing, Nuclear Generation DevelopmentOctober 28, 2008
New Nuclear at Darlington Environmental Assessment Update toPickering Community Advisory Council
2 Contents
Tonight’s presentation will cover New Nuclear at Darlington:
The Project
• Roles, Responsibilities, Milestones
Environmental Assessment
• Project Assumptions & Layouts
• Project – Environment Interactions
2 Contents
Environmental Assessment (cont’d)
• Cumulative Effects
• Significance Criteria
Public Consultations
• What We Are Hearing
• Current Activities
Pickering B EA Update
3Describe the Project:
Phases3 The Project - Roles and Responsibilities
The Project To construct and operate a new
nuclear power plant at the existing Darlington site to meet the base-load electricity requirements of Ontario
Ontario Power Generation (OPG) Is responsible for the federal
approvals - an environmental assessment (EA) & site preparation licence
The EA and licence application are for Up to four nuclear units
Up to 4,800 MW of electrical capacity
The EA must be completed before the site preparation licence can be issued
A federally appointed joint review panel will review the EA and licence application
OPG will be the operator for the new nuclear units at the Darlington site
4Describe the Project:
Phases4 The Project - Roles and Responsibilities
Infrastructure Ontario Leading a competitive process to select a nuclear reactor vendor to
construct two units and potentially additional units
Three internationally recognized vendors participating: Areva NP - US Evolutionary Pressurized Reactor (1600 MW)
Atomic Energy of Canada Limited – ACR1000 Advanced CANDU Reactor (1200 MW)
Westinghouse Electric Company – AP1000 nuclear power plant (1000 MW)
End of 2008: Deadline for Phase 2 Submission
2009: Preferred Vendor Selected
The Vendor will:
Be responsible for construction, including hiring, purchasing, etc.
Turn the reactors over to OPG when they are ready to begin operations
5 Upcoming Community Information Sessions
OPG asked to begin federal approvals process for new nuclear
Initial Site Preparation Licence – submitted Sept. 2006
Project Description – submitted April 2007
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency/Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
Determined that a Joint Review Panel will be established to review the documents
Released for public review on September 4, 2008 Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Guidelines
Draft Panel Agreement and Terms of Reference
Comments due November 19, 2008
OPG
Submits EIS and Site Preparation Licence Application, once guidelines are finalized
Joint Review Panel
Undertakes Public/Technical Review; Holds Public Hearing
Issues Report to Federal Minister of the Environment
5 The Project – Roles and Responsibilities
6 Darlington New Build Project Description6 Major/Indicative Milestones
7
7
Elements in the Environmental Assessment
OPG has completed
baseline data collection for most of the areas of study
↓
We are currently looking at project –
environment interactions
↓
All of this will be documented in the
environmental assessment
8 The Project – Principle Buildings & Structures
9 The Project - Conceptual Plant Layouts Conceptual layouts
developed to provide for principle buildings and structures
All provide for: Site access
Switchyard Expansion
Parking, Construction Facilities
Soil Stockpiles, Lake fill, Land fill
Used Fuel & Nuclear Waste Storage
Layout 1: 4 reactors and once through lake water cooling
10 Conceptual Site Layouts
Layout 2 has mechanical draft cooling towers and two reactor units
Mechanical draft cooling towers Main heat transfer to atmosphere
Structure minimally visible off-site
Very large land area required
↓
Layout 3 has natural draft cooling towers and two reactor units
Natural draft cooling towers
Main heat transfer to atmosphere
Structure highly visible off-site
Large land area required
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Project DescriptionBounding EA Timelines/Temporal Boundaries
The dates shown are for EA study purposes. Actual start and in service dates have yet to be determined
12 Site Preparation
Timeline:
Approximately two years
Workforce
Up to 400 (100 on-site; 300 off-site)
Activities Include:
Mobilization
Vegetation Removal/Earthmoving
Soil/Rock Management
• up to 12 million cubic metres
Infrastructure installation
13 Construction
Timeline:
Approximately six to eight years for two units
Workforce:
Up to 3,500 peak workforce for two units
On-site parking
Off-site parking may be used within five km of Darlington site, bus shuttles to transport workers
Activities Include:
Installation
Reactor block, turbine generator, cooling system
Construction Waste Management
Marine/Road/Rail Considerations
Concrete Supply
14 Operations
Workforce & Procurement:
Up to 1,400 per year for each set of two units
Mid-Life Replacement or Refurbishment - peak workforce approx. 2,000
Procurement patterns similar to current Darlington
Activities Include:
Reactor Commissioning
Safe plant operations
Waste/Used Fuel transfer
Mid-life major component replacement and/or refurbishment
Timeline:
Approximately 60 operating years for each set of reactors (2016-2100)
15 Project – Environment Interactions Matrix
Component
Potential Interaction
Site Preparation
Construction Operation Decom-missioning
Aboriginal Interests *Aquatic Biota, Surface Water * * *Atmosphere * * *Geology, Hydrogeology, Seismicity
* * * *
Human Health * * *Hydrology & Surface Water * * *Land Use and Transportation * *Physical & Cultural Heritage *Radiation and Radioactivity * *Socio-economic Conditions * * * *Terrestrial * *
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Potential Environment Effects Atmospheric Environment
Atmospheric Environment
Air quality; noise
Examples of Potential Effects
During site preparation & construction phases:
• Off-site dust and vehicle exhaust emission
• Increased noise from traffic and equipment
Dust and noise levels return to low levels during plant operation
Localized fogging and icing from mechanical draft cooling towers (if used)
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Potential Mitigation Measures Atmospheric Environment
Potential Mitigation Measures
Dust management plan for site preparation and construction phases, assumed to include:
Watering for dust control
Paved versus unpaved roads
Different aggregate grades for road construction
Slope stabilization (e.g. hydro seeding)
Noise Ensure construction equipment is
well maintained
Proactive communication with community
Vehicle operating restrictions
Off-site dust / vehicle exhaust/ noise effects
• Routine monitoring and notification
18 Projects to Consider in Cumulative Effects Projects to Consider in Cumulative Effects Cumulative Effects Assessment18
19 Cumulative Effects Assessment
Projects
407 East Extension
Region of Durham Energy from Waste Facility
Development within Clarington Energy Park
Oshawa Ethanol plant
St. Marys Alternative Fuels Project
Pickering Airport
Refurbishment of existing Darlington Nuclear Generating Station
Future 401 widening
Studies and Plans
Durham Region Water and Wastewater Master Servicing Strategy
20 Significance of Residual Environmental Effects
Criteria typically include:
Magnitude of effect
Geographical extent of the effect
Timing, duration, and frequency of the effect
Degree to which effects are reversible or
mitigable
Ecological and social/cultural context
Probability of occurrence
Existing regulatory and industry standards are used as points of reference.
Professional expertise and judgment are also applied.
21 Feedback We’ve Received
Community Information Sessions
600 visitors to date
Most Important Environmental Features are:
Drinking and lake water quality
Atmospheric environment, air quality
Human health considerations
Nuclear emergency infrastructure and preparedness
Transportation system safety and road traffic volumes & safety
22 Feedback We’ve Received
Community Kiosk:
500 visitors
Benefits the project will bring to the area
• How to secure employment
Importance/Value of the Kiosk
Timing of Key Events
• When will construction, operations start?
• When will decisions be made?
Community Events/Displays
5,000 visitors
50% of the comments:
• Nature of the EA studies, Strong project support
50% beyond OPG’s responsibility:
• Vendor selection, Ontario’s electricity system, etc.
23 Upcoming Community Information Sessions
Community Information Sessions Round #4 Bowmanville Tuesday, October 21
Port Hope Wednesday, October 22
Oshawa Thursday, October 23
Newcastle Tuesday, October 28
Lindsay Wednesday, October 29
Orono Thursday, October 30
Courtice Tuesday, November 4
Ajax Thursday, November 6
We will be seeking comments/input on Mitigation measures to address potential effects of the
project
Cumulative effects between new nuclear and other community projects
Criteria to assess significance of effects
23 Public Consultation Fall 2008
24 Contact Us24 Pickering B Refurbishment & Continued Operations EA
OPG Submitted the Pickering B Refurbishment and Continued Operations Environmental Assessment Study Report to the CNSC
December 2007
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC)
Released Draft Screening Report for Public Review - July 24 2008
Held two Public Information Sessions – July/August 2008
Public Comment Period Closed - September 4 2008
Released Notice of Public Hearing – October 7, 2008
Next Steps
Public/Interveners to submit Notice of Participation to CNSC – November 10, 2008
CNSC Hearing – December 10, 2008, Ajax Convention Centre
We encourage all to participate in the CNSC Review process
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www.opg.com/newbuild
1-866-487-6006
Contact Us25 Contact Us