Waste Repositories for the Nuclear Waste Management Organization
Nuclear Waste Management Organization | Canada | 2006–Ongoing
20,000 m3
of waste to be stored
First-of-its-kind
repositories
680 metres deep
Challenge
- Safe, long-term storage is needed for the disposal of low-, intermediate- and high-level nuclear waste produced at the Bruce, Darlington, and Pickering nuclear power generating stations.
- The disposal site for the high-level waste will be decided upon following conceptual design. Nine locations are still under consideration.
Solution
- A design study was undertaken for the Deep Geologic Repository (DGR), which is a long-term disposal facility for the low- and intermediate-level waste (L&ILW).
- Preliminary engineering studies support the NWMO’s preparation of submissions to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission for environmental approval and a construction license for the DGR.
- Hatch is now designing the first high-level waste repository in North America, known as the Adaptive Phased Management (APM).
- The project will use the Hatch Nuclear Quality Management System, which complies with Canadian Standard Association’s nuclear facility management standard, CSA N286.
Highlights
- The DGR is the first low- and intermediate-level waste project of its kind in Canada.
- Waste at the DGR will be stored approximately 680 m underground in a stable limestone formation.
- The APM is the first high-level waste project in North America.
