WHEELER R. Mine: In Situ - Envir. Assess.

[Oscar]

Notice of Hearing in Writing - December 4, 2019 Ref. 2019-H-111

Wheeler River Project - In Situ recovery uranium mine & processing operation - Athabasca Basin

[ http://www.nuclearsafety.gc.ca/eng/the- ... H111-e.pdf ]

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) will conduct a hearing based on a written submission in December 2019 to consider the scope of factors to be considered in the conduct of an environmental assessment (EA) for a project description submitted by Denison Mines Corporation (Denison). Denison has submitted a project description for its proposed Wheeler River Project, consisting of an in situ recovery uranium mining and processing operation located in the Athabasca Basin in northern Saskatchewan.

CNSC staff determined that Denison’s proposed Wheeler River Project meets the definition of a “designated project” under the Regulations Designating Physical Activities and is therefore subject to an EA under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA 2012), with the CSNC as the sole Responsible Authority. Although the Impact Assessment Act came into force in August 2019, this new law includes provisions to allow ongoing projects with EAs initiated under CEAA 2012 to continue under their existing EA processes. On May 31, 2019, Denison’s proposed Wheeler River Project description was posted on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry, with a 30-day public comment period.

The Commission’s determination in this matter will not represent a licensing decision. Rather, the Commission is required to determine the scope of factors to be considered in the EA for the proposed Wheeler River Project, taking into consideration all comments received during the public comment period conducted earlier this year. Following the completion of the EA, and upon application by Denison, the Commission will hold public hearings, with public participation, in respect of its decision on whether to approve the EA and to license Denison’s Wheeler River Project.

Pursuant to rule 3 of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission Rules of Procedure (the Rules), the Commission has decided to vary the Rules in order to ensure that this hearing is dealt with as informally and expeditiously as the circumstances and the considerations of
fairness permit. The Commission will consider the written submission from CNSC staff. A panel of the Commission will then deliberate and render a decision on the scope of the factors to be taken into consideration in the conduct of the EA.

The hearing submission from CNSC staff is available on the CNSC website or on request to the Secretariat.

Following the deliberations and Commission decision on this matter, a record of decision will be published on the CNSC website at nuclearsafety.gc.ca and made available on request.

For further information, please contact:

Senior Tribunal Officer, Secretariat
Tel.: 613-996-9063 or 1-800-668-5284
Fax: 613-995-5086
Email: cnsc.interventions.ccsn@canada.ca