NUCL 4625 Radioactive Waste Management Design
Task:
Purpose of the Scoping Document
The purpose of this document is to provide guidance on the scope of designated project Epigeic Radioactive Waste Management (ERWM), the factors and the scope of the factors for the environmental impact assessment (IA) to be conducted as a result of the proposal by Blue Ocean Waste Management Solutions (BOWMS) for a Radioactive Waste Storage and Disposal Facility (the “facility”) at the Epigeicia Site, located within the Municipality of Epigeic, Dawsoni, in the country of Solaster.
A federal IA of the proposed project is required under the provisions of the Canadian Impact Assessment Act (IAA). Under the IAA, the scope of the project, the factors and the scope of the factors included in the assessment are to be determined by the Responsible Authority (RA) which, in this case, is the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC).
This document describes the basis for the conduct of the IA, and focuses the assessment on relevant issues and concerns. The document also provides specific direction to the proponent, BOWMS, on how to document the technical IA study, an activity designated to the CNSC pursuant to subsection 93(1)(a) and 13(2) of the IAA. The document indicates the necessary information to be submitted by BOWMS to the CNSC to facilitate the development of the IA Comprehensive Study Report. In addition, this document provides a means of communicating the IA process to stakeholders.
Environmental Impact Assessment Process
The following key steps have been followed by the CNSC in anticipation of the IA process:
determination of the application of the IAA to the project, including establishment of a Canadian Impact Assessment Registry as per IAA sections 104(1) and 106(1); and stakeholder notification;
preparation of a draft scoping document and distribution to the proponent, federal authorities and the public; receipt of comments from federal authorities and the public;
CNSC review and disposition of comments received; and
revision of the draft scoping document, and submission of final scoping document to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) and the federal Minister of the Environment. As described in Section 5 of this document and pursuant to Subsection 22(2) of the IAA, the CNSC has provided a report to the Solaster federal Minister of the Environment (Minister). The report from the responsible authority to the Minister includes:
the scope of the ERWM project, the factors to be considered in the IA and the scope of those factors;
public concerns in relation to the ERWM project;
the potential for the ERWM project to cause adverse environmental effects; and
the ability of the Comprehensive Study to address issues relating to the ERWM project.
