Ontario Power Generation’s proposed deep geological repository would be situated at the Bruce site on the shores of Lake Huron.

Ontario Power Generation (OPG) has advised the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) that it will provide a response by May 26, 2017, to additional information requests regarding its proposed Deep Geologic Repository (DGR).

In an April OPG media release, on April 5, the CEAA issued 23 additional information requests to OPG, regarding three reports that OPG submitted in December 2016: a study of two alternate locations for the DGR besides the current proposed location at the Bruce nuclear site; a report on cumulative effects if two waste facilities were to be located in the same region (that is, OPG's repository for low- and intermediate-level waste only, and a separate repository being explored for used fuel); and a consolidation of all of OPG's environmental commitments made to date on the DGR project.

The CEAA held a period of public comment on these reports and also sought reviews from several federal departments as well as from Indigenous communities.

OPG reported that the types of additional questions they received April 5 were expected as a result of those reviews from January to March and are something they a normal part of the regulatory process. “They will help ensure that every aspect of this project has been examined,” said the news release.

The CEAA has asked for clarification, elaboration or further description of the project and its potential effects at the two alternate locations, in comparison with OPG’s proposed location at the Bruce nuclear site, including with respect to Indigenous communities and the environment, as well as a number of technical criteria and OPG is confident it can address the additional information requests thoroughly in this timeframe.

The questions are intended to help the CEAA complete its analysis and report, expected this summer, to the federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change. More information about the CEAA process is available here.

The DGR has the support of the Municipality of Kincardine and Saugeen Shores Council. OPG said it’s engaged in ongoing, respectful consultation with Indigenous communities, including Historic Saugeen Métis, Métis Nation of Ontario and Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) and has committed that the DGR will not be built without the free, prior and informed consent of SON.

See: Saugeen Shores Council votes in support of proposed DGR.