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What is the Nuclear Waste Management Organization?
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The NWMO was established by used nuclear fuel waste producers (Ontario Power Generation, New Brunswick Power and Hydro-Québec) as directed by the Nuclear Fuel Waste Act (NFWA) which came into force November 15, 2002.
The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) is an organization created to develop an approach for the long-term care of Canada’s used nuclear fuel and to implement it after the approach was approved by the federal government. The NWMO developed this approach through an innovative and wide-ranging program of dialogue with scientists, experts in a wide range of disciplines, and interested Canadians across this country.
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Who is the Nuclear Waste Management Organization?
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The NWMO has a staff whose role is to plan and manage the activities of the organization. This included initiating a dialogue with interested Canadians and engaging the best social and scientific expertise available to investigate the options for managing used nuclear fuel over the long term. Now that the approach has been approved by the federal government, the staff has taken on the task of implementing that approach.
The NWMO has the benefit of an independent Advisory Council composed of individuals knowledgeable in nuclear waste management issues and experienced in working with citizens and communities on a range of difficult public policy issues.
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What is the role of the Nuclear Waste Management Organization Advisory Council?
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The Advisory Council’s role is to:
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Comment on the nuclear waste management approach the NWMO considered;
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Ensure that the views of the public and communities of interest are considered and are reflected in a thoughtful, balanced way in the proposed approaches and reports of the NWMO; and
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Assist the NWMO in ensuring that its processes are of good quality and are open, transparent, thorough and sound.
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Who is on the Nuclear Waste Management Organization Board of Directors?
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Consistent with the federal government’s “polluter pays” principle, reflected in the Nuclear Fuel Waste Act, the NWMO Board of Directors is currently composed of representatives from Canada’s three nuclear fuel waste producing companies: Ontario Power Generation, New Brunswick Power and Hydro-Québec.
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When does the NWMO report?
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The NWMO was required to present its study and recommended approach to the Government of Canada by November 15, 2005. It did so on November 3, 2005. The NWMO is also required to report annually to the government.
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How does the NWMO consult with Canadians?
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The NWMO has an ongoing dialogue with Canadians. In its initial study, it discussed expectations with a wide range of individuals and communities of interest, seeking input on how to shape its consultation process. Then it used a variety of established and innovative techniques to explore the fundamental ethical, social and economic, as well as technical and scientific issues that were identified. The final phase of the study was an evaluation of approaches building on the organization’s evolving understanding of the issues.
The NWMO maintains the same consultation mode for its current task of implementing the approach approved by the government.
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What approaches were considered for the long-term management of nuclear waste?
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The Nuclear Fuel Waste Act required the NWMO to study, at a minimum, three specific approaches: a) deep geological disposal, b) storage at nuclear reactor sites, and c) centralized storage – either above ground, or below. This did not preclude studying other approaches which might have been identified through the course of the NWMO’s work.
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What is used nuclear fuel?
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Used nuclear fuel is a byproduct of the generation of electricity by nuclear power plants. Canadian nuclear power plants are fuelled by uranium pellets in the form of a fuel bundle. Once the fuel bundle has been used to generate electricity, it is removed from the reactor and considered waste. If improperly managed, used nuclear fuel is hazardous to humans and the environment for a very long time.
The job of the NWMO is to study and recommend how used fuel should be managed over the long term. Nuclear energy producers are responsible for, and have already instituted, approaches for the short term or interim management of used nuclear fuel.
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How much nuclear waste exists in Canada and how is it being managed now?
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There are just over two million used fuel bundles currently in storage in Canada. In the past 40 years, enough used fuel bundles have been produced in Canada that if they could be stacked like cordwood, they would fit into a space the size of six hockey rinks from the ice surface to the top of the boards.
Once they are removed from the reactor, used fuel bundles are generally stored for about 10 years on site at the power plant in water-filled pools in order to cool and shield them until their radioactivity declines. They are then typically placed in dry storage containers at or near the plant. The containers have a design life of 50 years.
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Who will pay for the long-term management of nuclear waste?
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Producers of used fuel are required by the Nuclear Fuel Waste Act to contribute to a trust fund to ensure that there will be sufficient money for the long-term management of used nuclear fuel.
The trust fund can only be used to implement the waste management approach approved by the government. It cannot be used to finance the day-to-day operations of the NWMO or its consultation process.
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