The Pickering station has been operating since 1971, and had been scheduled to be decommissioned this year, but the former Liberal government — and the current Progressive Conservative government — committed to keeping it open until 2024. "It was really kind of scary at first. "As soon as she told me that, I told her 'Let's get into the car and get out of here.' The purpose of the Radiation and Incidence of Cancer Around Ontario Nuclear Power Plants from 1990 to 2008 study (the "RADICON" study) was to determine the radiation doses to members of the public living within 25 km of the Pickering, Darlington, and Bruce NPPs and to compare cancer cases among these people with the general population of Ontario from 1990 to 2008. "I was surprised … it got me up in the morning. Anyone living within 50 kilometres of the Pickering or Darlington Nuclear plants (all of Toronto, Pickering, Ajax and Oshawa) can now request KI (potassium iodide) anti-radiation pills from OPG. The goal is to test the nuclear power plant operator, response agencies, and municipal, provincial and federal government responders’ ability to mitigate the impact of a nuclear accident. Potassium iodide pills prevent or reduce radioiodine absorption by the thyroid gland through the ingestion of a stable iodine compound, the city states. A previous version of this story provided incorrect information about the date of a police training exercise in Hawaii that set off false hazard alarms on Oahu and Maui. This funding will be used by stakeholders to review OPG's licence renewal application and other relevant documentation specifically related to the application, and to prepare for and participate in the Commission public hearing. Also a tweet isn't enough — not everyone who got the alert will see Twitter to know it's all OK.". "Someone needs to be held accountable for this," Andru Valpy wrote. Status units 5, 6, 7 and 8: Operating Wurzer said mistakes like the one today could have a negative impact on the public's trust in the alert system. Displayed here are job ads that match your query. Pickering, ON. Assemble machinery and equipment prior to installation using hand and power tools … "That plant's been down there forever and if anything was going to happen it would have happened a long time ago," she told CBC News. Since the implementation of the IEMP, the area outside of the Pickering NGS perimeter was sampled in 2014, 2015 and most recently 2017. "I wasn't too worried. I have spoken to the Province, and am demanding that a full investigation take place. Any request to operate beyond this date would require a licence amendment through a public hearing process before the Commission can render a decision. Number of units: 8 reactors The IEMP involves taking samples from public areas around the facilities, and measuring and analyzing the amount of radiological (nuclear) and hazardous substances in those samples. a) Determine the energy output of this plant per day. In 2017, OPG submitted an application for a 10-year renewal of the Pickering NGS power reactor operating licence, which expires on August 31, 2018. Pickering News Advertiser. Ontario Hydro committed to restarting the units, but the project underwent long delays and large cost over-runs. If you live within approximately 10 km of the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station, you will have received information about what to do in the unlikely event of a nuclear accident from OPG. "I opened up my window and looked outside [and] I didn't see any emergency vehicles or anything so I just assumed it was inaccurate and pretty much went back to bed.". There is no danger to the public or environment. The Pickering Nuclear Station has a deadly secret: The plant is a storehouse for 16 million kilograms of high-level radioactive waste sitting right on the edge of Lake Ontario. "While I am relieved that there was no actual emergency, I am upset that an error such as this occurred. Critics say extending the life of the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station for another year is not worth the risk. When you receive this information, read it carefully and store it in an easily accessible place. Requirements. Located in Pickering, Ontario (just east of Toronto), Ontario Power Generation’s One major activity of a PSR is to evaluate overall plant safety by integrating reviews of 15 safety factors covering elements related to the plant's design, condition, performance and operation, as well as to organizational and human performance. PICKERING -- Durham Regional Police were at Pickering Nuclear Generating Station investigating a suspicious package on Friday afternoon. I was like 'Oh God what do I do? Opposition politicians in Ontario are demanding an independent investigation after a false alarm about the Pickering nuclear plant was not fixed for almost two hours. An additional four reactors entered operations in the early 1980s. Was there an incident of any kind? The Ontario Power Generation operating licence for Pickering Nuclear Generating Station does not allow operation beyond December 31, 2024. For more information on nuclear emergency preparedness, consult Durham Region’s nuclear preparedness plan. As part of licensing conditions set out by the CNSC, a PSR is conducted every 10 years at all Canadian nuclear power plants. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. As per CNSC REGDOC-2.3.3, the PSR is to be conducted in four phases. Licensing documentation: Request a copy of the Pickering licence and licence condition handbook by email. Outstanding information items include additional details on measures and standards to avoid or mitigate serious harm to fish, residual serious harm to fish after implementation of avoidance and mitigation measures and standards, and additional information on the proposed offsetting plan. The more than 760,000 spent fuel bundles stored at the Pickering plant are the legacy of 50 years of reactor operations with no long-term waste management solution in sight. In fact, the correct date was January 2018. Like many of you, I was very troubled to have received that emergency alert this morning. You can also attend public information sessions held by local authorities and OPG. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. I didn't look for mine. People across Ontario were jolted awake Sunday morning by an alert from the province about a nuclear power-plant incident at the Pickering Nuclear Generation Station, east of Toronto. ", With files from Lisa Xing, Angelina King and The Canadian Press. PSR basis document – an agreement between OPG and the CNSC on the scope, depth of the PSR, Conduct of the safety factor reviews and documentation of the identified findings in 15 safety factor reports, Analysis of the findings and their integral impact on the plant safety (global assessment report [GAR]), Preparation of a safety enhancement plan (integrated implementation plan [IIP]), Meeting minutes: Ontario Power Generation, Environment and Climate Change Canada and CNSC April 17, 2018, Hazard quotients based on upper confidence limit on the mean, Hazard quotients maximum: Additional clarification, Posting of the PFP funding announcement on the PFP section of the CNSC website, Notification by letter to potentially interested Indigenous groups, August 8, 2018: CNSC renews Ontario Power Generation's Nuclear Power Reactor Operating Licence for the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station, February 7, 2018: CNSC renews Ontario Power Generation's waste facility operating licence for the Pickering Waste Management Facility, October 26, 2017: Decision on Ontario Power Generation's request to amend the operating licences for the Darlington and Pickering Nuclear Generating Stations. Pickering is Ontario’s oldest nuclear station and has been operating since 1971. In the midst of the panic, Arrigo says her grandmother, who works at the plant, texted her back to say everything was OK. Was the mistake that there was some incident that happened that wasn't an emergency? Decommissioning is now set to start in 2028. Furthermore, the CNSC employs technical and regulatory specialists at its head office in Ottawa, who perform assessments and evaluations of OPG's compliance with applicable requirements. "I've lived beside this plant for 42 years and I've had no worries yet, so, I don't think there's too much going on," Stinson told CBC News. The ERA for OPG's Pickering NGS assessed the potential risks to human health and the environment associated with the facility operations in the years leading up to the end of commercial operations. Pickering Nuclear Generating Station, Pickering Pickering Nuclear Generating Station is a Canadian nuclear power station located on the north shore of Lake Ontario in Pickering, Ontario. When Chuck Wurzer heard the noise on his phone, he thought it was another Amber Alert. The mistake has left people fuming, with scores of Twitter users flooding the OPG's Twitter feed to share their disgust. "There's not much you can do about it anyway. I'm still alive. Also co-located at the Pickering station is a single 1.8 MWe wind turbine named the OPG 7 commemorative turbine. For more information on CNSC requirements, consult REGDOC-2.10.1, understanding the risks specific to your region or community, preparing an emergency kit for your household, memorandum of understanding with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, CNSC releases 2017 Independent Environmental Monitoring Program results for the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station site. b) If the plant is 41% efficient, how much energy input is required in a single day c) Assume that 1.5 X 1010 kg of water from Lake Ontario is used to cool the operating system. "There was no incident at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station that should have triggered public notification. Indeed ranks Job Ads based on a combination of employer bids and relevance, such as your search terms and other activity on Indeed. The CNSC has implemented its Independent Environmental Monitoring Program (IEMP) to verify that the public and the environment around licensed nuclear facilities are protected. Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. Solicitor General Sylvia Jones has since issued a statement saying the alert was issued in error to the public during a routine training exercise being conducted by the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre (PEOC). The Pickering nuclear power plant is already operating beyond the terms of its natural life. The CNSC requires nuclear power plants to conduct a full-scale emergency exercise every three years to test emergency response plans, decision-making functions, response capabilities and interoperability. On December 31, 1997 the four Pickering A reactors were shut down by Ontario Hydro and placed in lay up, suspending work on upgrades to the shutdown system. When they were in the car, a neighbour came by to assure the Perez family it was a false alarm. Results confirm that the public and the environment around the facility are protected, Notice of public hearing and participant funding offering for the review of OPG's application to renew the operating licence for the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station, CNSC staff present to Pickering City Council on the regulatory oversight for the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station and the upcoming relicensing process, CNSC staff make several presentations in the community on the regulatory oversight of the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station, Protocol between Ontario Power Generation and the CNSC for the Pickering Waste Management Facility, CNSC amends OPG’s nuclear power reactor operating licence for the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station, CNSC releases 2014 and 2015 Independent Environmental Monitoring Program results for the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station, CNSC's decision on OPG's application to amend the power reactor operating licence for the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station, Notice of hearing for OPG's application to amend the nuclear power reactor operating licence for the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station, Regulatory oversight report for Canadian nuclear power plants, Most Recent CNSC Power Reactor Status Report, Radiation and Incidence of Cancer around Ontario Nuclear Power Plants from 1990 to 2008 study (the RADICON study), Canada's Action Plan in Response to the Nuclear Accident in Japan, CNSC staff present an update to the Commission on whole-site probabilistic safety assessment (PSA), Understanding Nuclear Power Plants: Total Station Blackout, Acceptance of Pickering NGS periodic safety review (PSR2) basis document, CNSC staff review of Pickering NGS periodic safety review (PSR2) safety factors reports, CNSC staff review of Pickering NGS periodic safety review (PSR2) GAR, Acceptance of Pickering NGS periodic safety review (PSR2) IIP, Environmental risk assessment and Predictive Effects Assessment for Pickering Nuclear Safe Storage, Environmental risk assessment report for safe storage, Predictive effects assessment for Pickering nuclear safe storage, Responses to CNSC and Environment and Climate Change Canada comments on the ERA, Fisheries and Oceans Canada conducts an investigation and issues a letter to OPG requiring OPG to submit an application for an authorization under paragraph 35(2)(b) of the, OPG submits an application to Fisheries and Oceans Canada for authorization under paragraph 35(2) of the, Fisheries and Oceans Canada conducts its review of the application and deems the application incomplete. "That's just their safety precaution. Of course, the better answer is to close the old and dangerous Pickering Plant before we … Each phase is thoroughly reviewed by CNSC staff before proceeding to the next phase: All PSR documents are available through OPG's website. It is a priority for CBC to create a website that is accessible to all Canadians including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. The first emergency alert said it applied to people living within 10 kilometres of the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station. I join Pickering @MayorDaveRyan in calling for a full investigation into why this error occurred because there are far too many unanswered questions. "I'm skeptical," Patel said, adding that based on his own tests with his personal radiation detector, there were no unusual readings. "This is a completely unacceptable use of the Emergency #Alert System. The alert was issued provincewide at 7:24 a.m. The power plant sits … These programs, for nuclear power plants, include a disclosure protocol developed in consultation with community stakeholders. "I live close enough where I can look out my window and see the plant," said Wurzer, who has lived in the area for 20 years. CNSC staff continuously review impacts to the environment, including impacts to fish and fish habitat, under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act. ", Even after receiving the notification that the alert was sent in error, Perez said he told his wife, "We'd better leave. Visit OPG's website for more information. "It was a bit confusing, I just wasn't expecting it," he told CBC News. ", Amber Waves wrote, "That's a really major error. Merinisa Natada of Pickering, Ont., scrambled for potassium iodide pills after getting the alert, while another resident, Heather Moss, said it was 'nonsense' to put people 'in a panic mode. I'm not worried about that plant.". Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. As OPG intends to cease commercial operation of the Pickering NGS on December 31, 2024, the proposed licence period would cover three phases of operational activities: continued commercial operation until December 31, 2024; a stabilization phase (post-shutdown defuelling and dewatering) lasting approximately two to three years; and the beginning of safe storage for six reactor units. Ontario Power Generation (OPG) owns and is licensed to operate the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station (NGS), located in the municipality of Pickering on the north shore of Lake Ontario. It operates six CANDU reactors, generates 14 per cent of Ontario's electricity, is responsible for 4,500 jobs across the region and is one of the largest nuclear generating stations in the world, according to OPG. Indeed may be compensated by these employers, helping keep Indeed free for job seekers. At about 7:25 a.m. on Sunday, the province said an incident was reported at the station, located off of Montgomery Park Road in Pickering. Based on recommendations from the FRC, the CNSC awards participant funding to recipients, who are required to submit a written intervention and make an oral intervention at the Commission public hearing. The NDP election platform doesn’t specifically mention plans to shutdown nuclear power, but does state that a key part of addressing oversupply will include: An independent, fact-based evaluation of when to take Pickering offline and begin creating jobs for the decommissioning of the plant. "I grew up here so it's always a worry in my mind living around the nuke plant. While I am relieved that there was no actual emergency, I am upset that an error such as this occurred. "Like many of you, I was very troubled to have received that emergency alert this morning," Ryan wrote on Twitter. February 28, 2020: The CNSC would like to clarify information from TVO’s The Agenda from February 25th. The output of the Pickering Nuclear Power plant is 3100 MW. "I think there are just so many questions that require a complete investigation here," Tory told CBC News. Dan Croft, who grew up in the area, described this morning's alert as "a big time error," adding that he's at a loss as to how it could have happened. The CNSC ensures that its reviews consider the requirements of the revised Fisheries Act, as per a memorandum of understanding with Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Special containment system: Common vacuum building maintained at negative atmospheric pressure After years of providing safe, clean, reliable power, the Pickering Nuclear GS will end commercial operations. End of commercial operations. Pickering Nuclear Power Plant is a Canadian nuclear power station located on the north shore of Lake Ontario in Pickering, Ontario. Operator: Ontario Power Generation The six operating units are currently scheduled for closure by the end of 2024. About an hour later, Ontario Power Generator, the plant's operator, tweeted without explanation that the warning "was sent in error.". It's something I wasn't expecting," Tracy told CBC News. "It makes me feel very, very safe right now. Erik Norvell said he was caught off guard, but did not panic too much. People across Ontario were jolted awake Sunday morning by an alert from the province about a nuclear power-plant incident at the Pickering Nuclear Generation Station. Critics warn that the Ford government’s move to eke out a little bit more power from the site is playing with fire. Whitby resident Viral Patel said he was in the area visiting friends and decided to stop by the plant after he got the notification that the alert was sent in error. ", Another user, Alex, wrote: "Me and probably a couple million people almost had an aneurysm [because] of that msg. For more information, visit OPG’s Prepare to be Safe. Important update: the alert regarding #Pickering Nuclear was sent in error. "We woke up the kids, then I came and started heating up the car. To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names will appear with each submission to CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities (except in children and youth-oriented communities). I have spoken to the province, and am demanding that a full investigation take place.". Tuesday, August 25, 2020. "Everything is normal. Unacceptable. You think the worst and hopefully good comes out of it.". Pickering nuclear plant may live to 2025 Ontario Power Generation seeking one-year licence extension. One user posted a screen shot from the HBO miniseries Chernobyl, and there were several tweets referencing what happened in Hawaii when a police training exercise in January 2018 set off false hazard alarms on Oahu and Maui, resulting in major public panic. 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