nuclear-news

Unmonitored radiation hazard at the Darlington Waste Facility

Dr. F. R. Greening, Hamilton, ON. 23 Apr 25

On March 26, 2025, CNSC staff made a presentation at Commission Hearing CMD 25-H2.A in which it discussed OPG’s Public Information and Disclosure Program, (PIDP), with regard to the performance of Darlington NGS and its licence renewal application. The CNSC concluded that Darlington was in compliance with the requirements of CNSC REGDOC-3.2.1. by virtue of its provision to the public of all information related to facility operations, health and safety.

Nevertheless, I was recently made aware that the presence of unexpected neutron emissions emanating from radioactive waste containers (RWCs) for removed pressure tubes and calandria tubes was discovered in June 2024 at the Darlington Waste Facility during a routine IAEA safeguards inspection. I believe that this incident is described in Darlington Waste Management Facility Event Report No: N-2024-09119, but has not been made public, as required by OPG’s Public Information and Disclosure Program.

I am therefore requesting that OPG confirm that this unmonitored radiation hazard was indeed discovered as described above and I am asking that the CNSC ensures that all relevant information pertaining to this incident be made public as soon as possible.

April 25, 2025 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized