Joint Review Panel Established for Proposed Darlington New Nuclear Power Plant Project

OTTAWA, October 30, 2009 – Canada’s Environment Minister Jim Prentice and Mr. Michael Binder, President and CEO of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), announced today the establishment of a three-member joint review panel for the proposed Darlington New Nuclear Power Plant Project located at the existing Darlington Nuclear site in the municipality of Clarington, Ontario.

Minister Prentice and Mr. Binder appointed Mr. Alan R. Graham as the panel chair, and Ms. Jocelyne Beaudet and Mr. Joseph Kenneth Pereira as panel members. Biographical information on the panel chair and members is available in the accompanying backgrounder.

The Joint Review Panel (the Panel) will consider the environmental assessment and the licence application to prepare a site for the proposed project.

The function and terms of reference for the Panel are defined in a joint panel agreement that was finalized in March 2009, after a public consultation process. Under the agreement, the Panel will:

• conduct an examination of the environmental effects of the proposed project and the significance of those effects;
• consider measures that are technically and economically feasible to mitigate any adverse environmental effects; and the need for, and the requirements of any follow-up programs with respect to the project;
• consider comments from the public that are received during the review;
• hold public hearings; and
• submit to the federal government a report with recommendations about the project.

Additional information on this project, the agreement and the environmental impact statement guidelines are available on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency Registry, under reference number 07-05-29525 and on the CNSC Web site atwww.nuclearsafety.gc.ca.

About the Project

Ontario Power Generation is proposing the site preparation, construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment of up to four new nuclear reactors at its existing Darlington Nuclear site located near Oshawa, Ontario, along the north shore of Lake Ontario, in the municipality of Clarington. The project is expected to generate approximately 4800 megawatts of electricity to the Ontario grid.

About the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency administers the federal environmental assessment process, which identifies the environmental effects of proposed projects and measures to address those effects, in support of sustainable development.

About the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission regulates the use of nuclear energy and materials to protect the health, safety and security of Canadians and the environment; and to respect Canada’s international commitments on the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

For more information, media may contact:

• Annie Roy
  Senior Communications Advisor
  Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
  Tel.: 613-957-0396
• Aurèle Gervais
  Media and Community Relations
  Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
  Tel.: 613-996-6860