Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management, Canada's Responses to Questions, April 2009

This report demonstrates how Canada continues to meet its obligations under the terms of the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management. A collaboration by government, industry and the regulatory body, this document focuses specifically on the progress of long-term management initiatives for spent fuel and radioactive waste in Canada, revisions and updates to Canada’s Second National Report and comments and issues raised at the Second Review Meeting.

At the present time in Canada, high-level radioactive waste is accumulating in the form of irradiated, used fuel from research reactors and nuclear power generating stations. The used fuel bundles are kept in water-filled bays at each of the reactor sites. Because water is both a radiation barrier and an effective coolant, this system provides a safe means of storage. Used fuel is also safely stored above ground in dry concrete canisters in several Canadian locations.