The Ontario Ministry of the Environment has issued a Certificate of Approval to Cameco Corporation for its Port Hope, Ontario uranium conversation facility’s sewage works.

• You can view the decision on the Environmental Registry.
  
• You can view the Certificate of Approval here.

In its decision, the MOE noted the following:

One (1) written public comment from Lake Ontario Waterkeeper (LOW) was received during the EBR consultation period. The concerns raised by LOW include the negative effects of the thermal plume on fish (cold-water shock and fungal infection), increase in bacteria and algae threats to the aquatic environment, impingement and entrainment of fish, and elevated levels of uranium contamination in the harbour.

Due to historic radioactive contaminated sediments and uranium contaminated groundwater discharges into the Port Hope Harbour, the harbour is designated as one of the areas of concern on the Great Lakes. The historic uranium contamination is being addressed through the Port Hope Area Initiative led by Atomic Energy Canada and Public Works with Ministry of Environment’s involvement. The proposed once-through non-contact cooling water uses the existing uranium contaminated harbour water. Assessment of the proposal is based on the performance of the proposed once-through non-contact cooling water system and its potential for any new environmental impact to the natural environment (Lake Ontario)

The concerns raised by LOW have been considered and addressed by the terms and conditions of the Certificate of Approval issued for the once-through non-contact cooling water discharge to Lake Ontario. The Certificate of Approval includes Condition 4 which ensures that no process related uranium and fluoride contamination loadings are discharged to the lake and the environment is protected. The Certificate of Approval includes Condition 5 which ensures that any potential thermal impact from the discharge is minimized by requiring that maximum temperature and maximum temperature differential of the discharges are below the Provincial Water Quality Objectives. Condition 5(4) of the Certificate of Approval requires that the once-through cooling water discharges be non-acutely lethal to Rainbow Trout and Daphnia Magna.

Lake Ontario Waterkeeper’s comment is also available on our website.