Ontario Power Generation's Deep Geologic Repository

Ontario Power Generation's Deep Geologic Repository is Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG) proposed repository for low and intermediate level radioactive waste. The facility would be located on the Bruce nuclear site, which is near Tiverton in the Municipality of Kincardine, Ontario.

The deep geological repository is designed to manage low and intermediate level radioactive waste, produced from the continued operations at the Bruce, Pickering and Darlington nuclear generating stations in Ontario. Low level waste (LILW-SL, Short lived) consists of industrial items that have become contaminated with low levels of radioactivity during routine clean-up and maintenance activities at nuclear generating stations. Intermediate level radioactive waste (LILW-LL, Long lived) consists primarily of ion-exchange resins and filters used to purify reactor water systems, and used reactor components such as steam generators and reactor pressure tubes.

The OPG DGR would be located 680 metres or 2230 feet below the surface, beneath very thick layers of limestone and shale rock, which have remained stable for more than 450 million years. The storage area is only 650 metres inshore from Lake Huron.

The repository would be very large, approximately 15 hectares on the surface and 30 hectares underground. Ontario Power Generation’s estimate is that 200,000 m3 of waste in 53,000 containers would be placed in the repository over a period of 35 to 40 years.

OPG is the project proponent. The Nuclear Waste Management Organziation (NWMO) are "consultants" to OPG. The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency manages the federal environmental assessment review process, and is co-manager of the Joint Review Panel evaluating OPG's proposal. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission is the federal regulator of nuclear facilities, and is responsible for licensing and overseeing nuclear projects, including the proposed underground repository.