Uranium Mines and Mills Regulations (SOR/2000-206)

Requirement for Code of Practice

• 4 (1) In this section, action level means a specific dose of radiation or other parameter that, if reached, may indicate a loss of control of part of a licensee’s radiation protection program or environmental protection program, and triggers a requirement for specific action to be taken.

• (2) An application for a licence in respect of a uranium mine or mill, other than a licence to abandon, shall contain a proposed code of practice that includes

  • (a) any action level that the applicant considers appropriate for the purpose of this subsection;

  • (b) a description of any action that the applicant will take if an action level is reached; and

  • (c) the reporting procedures that will be followed if an action level is reached.

Licence to Prepare Site and Construct

• 5 (1) An application for a licence to prepare a site for and construct a uranium mine shall contain the following information in addition to the information required by section 3 and subsection 4(2):

  • (a) a description of the proposed design of the mine;

  • (b) the proposed construction program, including its schedule;

  • (c) a description of the components, systems and equipment proposed to be installed at the mine, including their design operating conditions;

  • (d) the proposed quality assurance program for the design of the mine;

  • (e) the results of a process-hazard analysis and a description of how those results have been taken into account;

  • (f) a description of the proposed design, construction and operation of the waste management system, including the measures to monitor its construction and operation, the construction schedule, the contingency plans for construction and the measures to control the movement of water in existing waterways;

  • (g) a description of the proposed disposition of the ore;

  • (h) the anticipated quantities and grade of ore and waste rock that will be removed, their proposed storage location, and the proposed method, program and schedule, for their removal and disposal;

  • (i) the proposed mining methods and programs; and

  • (j) the proposed commissioning plan for the components, systems and equipment to be installed at the mine.

• (2) An application for a licence to prepare a site for and construct a uranium mill shall contain the following information in addition to the information required by section 3 and subsection 4(2):

  • (a) a description of the proposed design of the mill;

  • (b) the proposed construction program, including its schedule;

  • (c) a description of the components, systems and equipment proposed to be installed at the mill, including their design operating conditions;

  • (d) the proposed quality assurance program for the design of the mill;

  • (e) the results of a process-hazard analysis and a description of how those results have been taken into account;

  • (f) a description of the proposed design, construction and operation of the waste management system, including the measures to monitor its construction and operation, the construction schedule, the contingency plans for construction and the measures to control the movement of water in existing waterways;

  • (g) the proposed milling methods and programs;

  • (h) a description of all proposed laboratory facilities and programs; and

  • (i) the proposed commissioning plan for the components, systems and equipment to be installed at the mill.

Licence to Operate

• 6 (1) An application for a licence to operate a uranium mine shall contain the following information in addition to the information required by section 3 and subsection 4(2):

  • (a) the results of any commissioning work;

  • (b) a description of the structures, components, systems and equipment at the mine, including any changes to their design and their design operating conditions as a result of the commissioning;

  • (c) the proposed policies, methods and programs for operating and maintaining the mine; and

  • (d) the proposed methods for handling, storing, loading and transporting nuclear substances and hazardous substances.

• (2) An application for a licence to operate a uranium mill shall contain the following information in addition to the information required by section 3 and subsection 4(2):

  • (a) the results of any commissioning work;

  • (b) a description of the structures, components, systems and equipment at the mill, including any changes to their design and their design operating conditions as a result of the commissioning;

  • (c) the proposed policies, methods and programs for operating and maintaining the mill;

  • (d) the proposed methods for handling, storing and loading concentrates and uranium-bearing material, both solid and liquid;

  • (e) the proposed operating schedule;

  • (f) the daily and annual design capacity of the mill, and the expected recovery and composition of mill feed, concentrates and tailings; and

  • (g) a description of the proposed operation of the waste management system.

Licence to Decommission

7 An application for a licence to decommission a uranium mine or mill shall contain the following information in addition to the information required by section 3 and subsection 4(2):

• (a) a description of and the proposed schedule for the decommissioning work, including the proposed starting date and the expected completion date of the decommissioning work and the rationale for the schedule;

• (b) the land, buildings, structures, components, systems, equipment, nuclear substances and hazardous substances that will be affected by the decommissioning;

• (c) the proposed measures, methods and programs for carrying on the decommissioning; and

• (d) a description of the planned state of the site upon completion of the decommissioning work.

Licence to Abandon

8 An application for a licence to abandon a uranium mine or mill shall contain the following information in addition to the information required by sections 3 and 4 of the General Nuclear Safety and Control Regulations:

• (a) the program to inform persons living in the vicinity of the site of the mine or mill of the general nature and characteristics of the anticipated effects of the abandonment on the environment and the health and safety of person;

• (b) the results of the decommissioning work; and

• (c) the results of the environmental monitoring programs.

Time Lines: Application for Licence to Prepare Site and Construct

Compliance Verification

8.1 The Commission shall, within 60 days after the day on which an application for a licence to prepare a site for and construct a uranium mine or mill is received, determine whether the application contains sufficient detailed information for the Commission to commence its review.

Time Periods — Review of Application

8.2 The Commission shall, within five days after the day on which it determines that an application contains sufficient detailed information for it to commence its review, give notice of the commencement of its review

• (a) by providing notice in writing to this effect by mail or email to the applicant; and

• (b) by posting notice to this effect on its Internet site.

• 8.3 (1) The Commission shall render its decision in respect of an application within a time period of 24 months from the day on which the notice is posted in accordance with paragraph 8.2(b).

• (2) The following are excluded from the 24-month time period:

  • (a) any period granted by the Commission for the preparation and submission of information requested by the Commission, which in the opinion of the Commission is necessary to complete the review;

  • (b) any period, not to exceed 30 days following the Commission’s receipt of a response to the request for information referred to in paragraph (a), that the Commission requires to determine whether the information requested has been provided and is adequate;

  • (c) any period that is required by any jurisdiction to respond to an offer to consult and cooperate made by the Commission under section 18 of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 with respect to the environmental assessment of the proposed preparation of the site for, and construction of, the uranium mine or mill, or its operation, decommissioning or abandonment, and, if the offer is accepted by any jurisdiction, any period that is required for consultation and cooperation with that jurisdiction;

  • (d) any period that is required to conduct, and render a decision on, an environmental assessment of the proposed preparation of the site for, and construction of, the uranium mine or mill, or its operation, decommissioning or abandonment, by any jurisdiction that is obligated by law to conduct that assessment and render a decision; and

  • (e) any period during which the licence application review was adjourned under section 14 of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission Rules of Procedure.

• (3) The Commission shall give notice of the beginning and end of any period that is excluded from the 24 months

  • (a) by providing notice in writing to this effect by mail or email to the applicant; and

  • (b) by posting notice to this effect on its Internet site.

Obligations of Licensees

Posting of Code of Practice

9 Every licensee shall post a copy of the code of practice referred to in the licence at a location within the uranium mine or mill that is accessible to all workers and where it is most likely to come to their attention.

Operating Procedures

10 Every licensee shall

• (a) establish, implement and maintain written operating procedures for the licensed activity;

• (b) train its workers to perform their work in accordance with the operating procedures; and

• (c) audit its workers for the purpose of verifying compliance with the operating procedures.

Ventilation Systems

11 Every licensee shall, with respect to the ventilation systems established in accordance with the licence,

• (a) ensure that each main fan is equipped with a device that provides a warning signal when the main fan is not functioning properly;

• (b) ensure that a person is designated to receive and respond to a warning signal provided by a device referred to in paragraph (a); and

• (c) implement measures to prevent any person or activity from interfering with the proper operation of the ventilation systems.

Malfunction of Ventilation System

• 12 (1) Where a ventilation system in a work place is not functioning in accordance with a licence, the licensee shall

  • (a) implement alternative measures to protect the health and safety of its workers; and

  • (b) ensure that only the work necessary to restore that system is performed in the work place.

• (2) Before a worker performs any work that is necessary to restore a ventilation system, the licensee shall inform the worker of the protective measures that have been taken and are to be taken in connection with the work.

Use of Respirators

13 No licensee shall rely on the use of a respirator to comply with the Radiation Protection Regulations unless the use of the respirator

• (a) is for a temporary or unforeseen situation; and

• (b) is permitted by the code of practice referred to in the licence.

Gamma Radiation

14 Every licensee shall

• (a) post signs at all entrances to each area where the dose rate of gamma radiation exceeds 25 µSv/h, designating the area as a radiation area and indicating the dose rate of gamma radiation in that area; and

• (b) provide every worker who is to enter an area where the dose rate of gamma radiation exceeds 100 µSv/h with a direct-reading dosimeter.

Training Program

• 15 (1) Where a worker successfully completes the training program in basic radiation health and safety referred to in a licence, the licensee shall issue to the worker a certificate indicating that the worker has completed a training program in basic radiation health and safety that is acceptable to the Commission.

• (2) Every licensee shall provide a copy of the training program referred to in the licence to a workers’ representative.