The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) is tasked with regulating nuclear power in Canada to “protect the health, safety, and security of Canadians and the environment.” The members of the commission review applications for licences according to regulatory requirements, make recommendations to the Commission, and enforce compliance with the Nuclear Safety and Control Act, regulations, and any licence conditions imposed by the Commission (http://nuclearsafety.gc.ca/eng/). The CNSC maintains a detailed website with information about nuclear power plants, the CNSC’s regulatory framework, and licence applications.
Go the CNSC’s Nuclear Facilities in Canadian Communities page (nuclearsafety.gc.ca/eng/). Find your province or territory on the list.
Evaluate the website and work with the information to answer the following questions:
Is this a reliable information source? Does the organization have a clear and transparent agenda?
Who runs the website? Do this person’s/group’s credentials make the information reliable or unreliable?
Is the information on the website up to date? When was the website last updated? Explain.
How many nuclear facilities (active or being decommissioned) are in Canada? What types of nuclear sites are listed here?
For your province or territory (or another province or territory if yours is not listed here), click on each link for the nuclear sites listed and answer the following questions:
For each nuclear site in this province or territory, describe what the site is, what it contains (in terms of nuclear material), the environmental issues associated with the site (if any), and the plan of action to correct the issues.
If there are nuclear power reactors in this province or territory, write down information about their age, intended use, current status, and specific locations. Find the location on a map and record the closest large body of water.
Consider the information you have gathered, and do a basic risk assessment analysis for one of the sites.
Do you think the facility is a danger to the environment? To human health? Why or why not?
Is the facility located in an area that may have natural disasters? If so, what are they? If a natural disaster were to occur, predict some outcomes.