CNSC Announces Decision to Renew the Power Reactor Operating Licence for the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - April 6, 2011) - Following a one-day public hearing, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) announced today its decision to renew the Power Reactor Operating Licence issued to New Brunswick Power Nuclear for its Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station, for a period of one year. The licence will be valid for an additional period of one year, until June 30, 2012. The Commission concurrently revokes operating licence PROL 17.11/2011.

The Commission, in making its decision, considered information presented for a public hearing held on January 19, 2011 in Ottawa, Ontario. During the public hearing, the Commission received and considered CNSC staff recommendations and the submissions from New Brunswick Power Nuclear and 18 intervenors.

The Commission is satisfied that the licensee meets the requirements of section 24 of the Nuclear Safety and Control Act. The Commission concludes that New Brunswick Power Nuclear is qualified to carry out the activities that will be permitted under the renewed licence and that it will make adequate provision for the protection of the environment, the health and safety of persons, and the maintenance of national security and measures required to implement international obligations to which Canada has agreed.

With this decision, New Brunswick Power Nuclear is required to obtain prior approval of the Commission before reloading fuel in the reactor and proceeding with the restart of the reactor at the conclusion of the refurbishment outage. The Commission will consider the request for this approval in the context of a public hearing.

A Record of Proceedings, including Reasons for Decision and transcripts of the hearing are available on the CNSC Web site at www.nuclearsafety.gc.ca, or by contacting the CNSC. The webcast of the hearing is also archived on the same site for a period of 90 days.

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) regulates the use of nuclear energy and materials to protect the health, safety and security of Canadians and the environment; and to respect Canada's international commitments on the peaceful use of nuclear energy.