Waterkeeper seeks intervenor status in the Pickering A relicencing hearing

Lake Ontario Waterkeeper has requested permission from the CNSC to intervene in the relicencing hearing for the Pickering A Nuclear Generating Station. On May 21, 2010, LOW will appear before the Commission to present our recommendations.

Ontario Power Generation (OPG) has applied to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission for an amendment to the power reactor operating licence for its Pickering Nuclear Generating Station (NGS) A (Pickering A). The current licence expires on June 30, 2010. OPG has requested a five-year licence term. If granted, the company will have to apply for another licence in 2015 to take the plant to its estimated end of life in 2020.

Our concerns with the licencing of Pickering A focus on the plant’s impacts on the integrity of Lake Ontario as aquatic and fish habitat, a place for recreation, and a source of drinking water for millions of people. Our specific environmental and procedural concerns are summarized in our Request to Intervene, which you can read here. Our recommendations are supported by a report prepared by Pisces Conservation Ltd., cooling water systems experts, which you can read here.