Port Granby Project Update

Scott Parnell of Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) provided an update on the Port Granby Project during the General Government Committee meeting held on September 28, 2020. Parnell reported that CNL has completed the safe transfer of historic waste away from the Lake Ontario shoreline and has begun site restoration efforts. He noted that the long-term waste management facility waste has been placed in cells, with cap construction currently underway. Water management measures have been successful and will continue to be scaled down.

Regarding the Port Granby bluffs, Parnell mentioned that the East Gorge Groundwater Collection System is being installed, and topsoil and seeding on the south site were completed in mid-September. The grading, shaping, and closure of Cell 1 waste are anticipated to occur this fall. Additionally, the Wastewater Treatment Plant has had its lake tanks removed, and the bioreactor and equalization pond have been cleaned out. Solid waste material is being transported to the Port Hope facility for storage, with the route supported by the municipalities involved.

Parnell also addressed the impact of COVID-19 on operations, stating that CNL has been gradually restarting work with new safety measures in place for both office and field activities. He emphasized the importance of community outreach and indicated that CNL will continue to hold stakeholder meetings and presentations regarding the project. Parnell concluded by discussing an application to change the cleanup criteria used to determine when remediation of a Port Granby site is complete, highlighting the benefits of a revised cleanup standard.