The CNSCs Regulatory Framework Plan
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The CNSC’s Regulatory Framework Plan (the Plan) sets out the regulations and other regulatory framework documents that the CNSC plans to develop or amend.
The Plan, which aligns with the CNSC’s corporate priorities, is the result of continuous, whole-of-CNSC analysis of the regulatory framework and considers current developments in the nuclear environment. It is reviewed on a quarterly basis and adjusted accordingly.
The current plan focuses on clarifying licence application requirements across the nuclear sector, particularly for nuclear power plants, new small reactors, and uranium mines and mills. It also includes the expected publication of discussion papers about the CNSC’s proposed regulatory approaches to regulatory issues, such as nuclear workers’ fitness for duty, radiation protection, environmental protection and waste management. These discussion papers provide important opportunities for early stakeholder input to CNSC regulatory initiatives.
If you are interested in the continuing development of the Regulatory Framework Plan or the progress of the CNSC’s regulatory documents, sign up for email updates at the CNSC Subscription Centre. Subscribers will also receive, among other notices, information bulletins when draft regulatory documents are available for public comment as well as when they are published.
The following is a summary of some of the documents that the CNSC plans to issue for public consultation or to publish before the end of 2013.
| Regulatory Framework Plan Upcoming Public Consultations and Publications (2011–13) (in chronological order by expected publication date) |
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Licence Application Guide: Distribution of Nuclear Substances and Radiation Devices This guide provides guidance to assist prospective/current licensees on how to complete an application for a licence for nuclear substances and radiation devices. There will be no public consultation since this guide has been used informally for a number of years.
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Licence Application Guide: Isotope Production Accelerators This guide provides direction for completion and submission of the application form for the construction, operation, or decommissioning of isotope production accelerator facilities classified as Class II nuclear facilities. This includes the requirements for the design and use of any associated radioisotope processing facilities. There will be no public consultation since this guide has been used informally for a number of years.
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Reporting Requirements for Operating Nuclear Power Plants This document details the information that nuclear power plant licensees are to report to support the conditions of applicable operating licences. It outlines required types of compliance monitoring reports, frequency, and applicable timeframe for reporting (reporting timeframes are determined by the safety significance of the event).
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Maintenance Programs for Nuclear Power Plants This document presents requirements for and guidance on the elements of a maintenance program for nuclear power plants.
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Pre-Licensing Review of a Vendor Reactor Design This document provides a high‑level description of the Canadian pre-licensing review process for assessing a vendor’s design for a nuclear power plant or small reactor and defines the scope and depth of the review. Pre-licensing review is an optional service provided by the CNSC to identify and resolve potential regulatory or technical issues. The process aims to increase regulatory certainty and ensure public safety. This service does not certify a reactor design or involve the issuance of a licence. There will be no public consultation since this document provides general information of the Canadian pre-licensing review process for assessing a vendor’s design for a nuclear power plant and small reactor.
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Radiation Protection Program Design for the Transport of Nuclear Substances This document provides guidance for the implementation of a radiation protection program to transport nuclear substances. It is intended to assist carriers regulated under the Packaging and Transport of Nuclear Substances Regulations, but not licensed by the CNSC. The Draft Regulatory Guide G-314, Implementation of Radiation Protection Programs by Consignors, Carriers and Consignees of Radioactive Material was previously consulted on in 2004. There will be no additional public consultation.
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Design, Testing and Performance of Exposure Devices This document provides guidance for the safe design, testing and performance of exposure devices and related accessories.
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Life Management of Nuclear Power Plants This document is a revision of RD-360, Life Extension of Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs), and sets out the CNSC requirements regarding activities a licensee must undertake in support of a project for long-term operation or to prepare for the end of operation of an NPP leading up to its decommissioning. Long-term operation is the operation beyond the assumed design life of the nuclear power plant. End of operation is the final, permanent shutdown of reactor operation of an NPP or a reactor unit of a multi-unit NPP facility. Guidance information is also provided.
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Reliability Programs for Nuclear Power Plants This document describes attributes of a reliability program that would meet the requirements of the CNSC standard S–98 (Revision 1), Reliability Programs for Nuclear Power Plants.
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Security Measures for Sealed Sources This document sets out the minimum security measures that licensees must implement to prevent the loss, sabotage, illegal use, illegal possession, or illegal removal of sealed sources in storage at the site of a licensed activity or while they are in transport or being stored during transportation.
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Nuclear Security Response Force This document sets out, in the interests of security, the requirement to establish a qualified and equipped on-site nuclear response force at certain nuclear facilities. (This document contains prescribed information that will be made available only to stakeholders with appropriate security clearance on a valid “need-to-know” basis).
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Design of New Nuclear Power Plants This document is a revision of RD-337, Design of Nuclear Power Plants.
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Licence Application Guide: Licence to Construct a Small Reactor This guide identifies the information that should be submitted in support of an application for a licence to construct a small reactor.
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Commissioning of Nuclear Power Plants and Small Reactors This document provides requirements and guidance for the commissioning program, organization and management, test and review procedures, and interfaces between organizations involved in commissioning activities for nuclear reactors.
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Licence Application Guide: Licence to Prepare Site for a Class I Facility, Nuclear Power Plant, or Small Reactor This guide identifies the information that should be submitted in support of an application for a licence to site a nuclear power plant or small reactor.
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Site Access Security Clearance Requirements This document provides licensees with guidance on how to carry out a “site access security clearance” assessment referred to in the Nuclear Security Regulations.
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The following documents are in the Regulatory Framework Plan for 2012–13. These include new regulatory documents and revisions to older CNSC documents.
Detailed project plans for these documents are not yet in place. Further details about the document, public consultation, and publication will be posted as they become available.
Construction of Nuclear Power Plants This document provides requirements and guidance on the construction of nuclear power plants. |
Operation of a Nuclear Power Plant This is a document providing requirements and guidance on the operation of a nuclear power plant. |
Guidance for Aging Management for Nuclear Power Plants This document offers guidance on aging management for nuclear power plants. |
Guidance for the Design of Small Reactors This document provides guidance on the design of small reactors. |
Guidance on Deterministic Safety Analysis for Small Reactors This document provides guidance on deterministic safety analysis for small reactors. |
Construction of a Small Reactor This document provides requirements and guidance on the construction of a small reactor. |
Operation of Small Reactors This document provides requirements and guidance on the operation of small reactors. |
Certification of Persons Working at Nuclear Power Plants This document describes the certification requirements for persons working at nuclear power plants. |
Guidance for Licensee Self Assessment of Safety Culture This document provides guidance to licensees on how to assess their own safety culture. |
Reporting Requirements for Uranium Mines and Mills This document gives direction for the reporting requirements for uranium mines and mills. |
Fire Protection at Nuclear Facilities and Uranium Mines and Mills This is a document on fire protection at nuclear facilities and uranium mines and mills. |
Radioactive Waste Management Programs This document describes the requirements for a radioactive waste management program that would apply to all licensees. |
Siting of a Geological Repository This document describes high-level requirements for siting a geological repository. |
Operation of a Processing Facility This document gives requirements and guidance to operate a processing facility. |
Construction of a Processing Facility This document provides requirements and guidance to construct a processing facility. |
Licence Application Guide: Licence to Construct a Processing Facility This licence application guide provides guidance to assist prospective/current licensees on how to complete an application to construct a processing facility. |
Licence Application Guide: Licence to Prepare Site for a Processing Facility This licence application guide provides assistance to prospective/current licensees on how to complete an application to prepare a site for a processing facility. |
Licence Application Guide: Licence to Operate a Small Reactor This licence application guide provides assistance to prospective/current licensees on how to complete an application to operate a small reactor. |
Licence Application Guide: Licence for Uranium Mines and Mills This provides guidance to assist prospective/current licensees on how to complete an application for uranium mines and mills. |
Licence Application Guide: Licence to Operate a Nuclear Power Plant This licence application guide provides guidance to assist prospective/current licensees on how to complete an application to operate a nuclear power plants. |
Licence Application Guide: Licence for Radiation Therapy This document provides direction for the completion and submission of an application for a radiation therapy licence. |
Licence Application Guide: Licence to Operate of Processing Facility This licence application guide provides guidance to assist prospective/current licensees on how to complete an application to operate a processing facility. |