South Bruce Community Members Tour Ontario Power Generation Facilities

For Immediate Release
October 30, 2023.

SOUTH BRUCE, ON – South Bruce community members toured Ontario Power Generation (OPG) facilities to learn about current storage and waste management processes for high, intermediate, and low-level nuclear waste on Friday, October 27.

The Municipality of South Bruce is participating in the site selection process to host the deep geological repository for Canada’s used nuclear fuel. Facility tours provide an up-close experience for community members to gain a better understanding of handling of nuclear waste and the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) Project.

The tour offered community members a closer look at how different types of used material from nuclear power plants is managed, as well as how used nuclear fuel is currently secured. The Project that South Bruce is considering is specifically for the long-term storage of Canada’s used nuclear fuel.

The two dozen participants included residents and landowners, as well as members of Council, the Community Liaison Committee, and staff. They visited the Western Clean Energy Sorting and Recycling Facility and the Nuclear Sustainability Services – Western Facility, both OPG-owned facilities north of Kincardine.

OPG staff explained how the Western Clean Energy Sorting and Recycling Facility sorts low-level radioactive materials, such as clothing and tools to reduce waste volume.

“It was great to see another major part of the nuclear industry,” said South Bruce resident Vanessa Huber. “I was blown away by the countless layers of defence in place to ensure safe processing and storage of nuclear waste, particularly with the used dry fuel bundles.”

At OPG’s Nuclear Sustainability Services – Western Facility, attendees learned more about interim storage of spent nuclear fuel. This included the manufacturing and monitoring processes for used nuclear fuel Dry Storage Containers, the on-site waste reducing incinerator and ventilation system. Tour participants watched OPG staff remotely weld a Dry Storage Container (DSC) which holds used nuclear fuel, and then had the opportunity to see the DSC when touring the interim storage warehouse.

“Providing a firsthand look at the interim storage of low and intermediate materials as well as spent fuel allowed the group to garner a fulsome understanding of the complete cycle of nuclear energy production in Ontario,” said OPG Senior Communications Advisor Kaitlyn Nevill.

The Municipality continues to offer community members the opportunity to learn more about nuclear energy and the plan to store Canada’s used nuclear fuel. To receive updates on upcoming events, please subscribe to the Municipality’s ‘Stay Connected’ list. If you are interested in participating in a future educational tour, please contact Steve Travale at stravale@southbruce.ca.

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