The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) has released a discussion document on our proposed approach for siting a deep geological repository for intermediate- and high-level radioactive waste. This is the NWMO’s second repository project and we are inviting feedback from Canadians and Indigenous Peoples to help us refine the site selection process.
Canada’s intermediate- and high-level waste is safely stored on an interim basis, but the methods used today are temporary and not suitable for the very long term. Canadians and Indigenous Peoples have consistently told us that the work to safely manage radioactive waste for the long term needs to be undertaken now, in this generation.
“Like many countries with commercial nuclear power programs, Canada is planning for the future,” said Laurie Swami, President and CEO of the NWMO. “There is international scientific consensus that a deep geological repository is the safest way to manage intermediate- and high-level waste over the long-term.”
In 2024, after a comprehensive site selection process, we selected a site in northwestern Ontario as the future location to build a deep geological repository to store Canada’s used nuclear fuel. That proposed site will soon begin a multi-year regulatory decision-making process to independently confirm its safety before the project can proceed.
For the new project, we will continue our longstanding focus on technical safety and community willingness as primary site selection criteria. We are inviting public input to further refine our proposed approach before we begin the site selection process for this second repository, in 2028.
The second repository will house intermediate- and non-fuel high-level waste and potentially also used nuclear fuel from new nuclear reactors built in Canada in the future.
Intermediate-level waste includes equipment and components that have been used inside nuclear reactors in the production of electricity from nuclear fuel, but excludes nuclear fuel itself, which is high-level waste.
Non-fuel high-level nuclear waste may include, for example, small quantities of materials used in the process of making medical isotopes. Many isotopes are used for cancer treatments and diagnosis and sterilization of medical equipment. Canada is a leading global producer of medical isotopes.
“We are committed to seeking input from Indigenous Peoples from the very beginning of our site selection process for the next deep geological repository, and to forge relationships built upon trust and transparency,” said Joanne Jacyk, the NWMO’s Director of Site Selection for the second repository project.
Ms. Jacyk added that public engagement will take place over the next two years and will be used to refine the second site selection process.
Please see the NWMO’s discussion document for more detailed information about this project. You can also contact us directly at ILW@nwmo.ca if you would like to learn more about sharing your input throughout the engagement process.