The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) has extended the operating licenses for the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station by seven months, to allow operator Bruce Power more time to prepare for public hearings on its application for a five-year license extension.
The licenses for Bruce A and B were due to expire at the end of October 2014, and Bruce Power applied to CNSC for an extension until 2019 last year. However, in April the operator requested a shorter license extension "to ensure that all relevant documentation was available in time to facilitate more meaningful public participation in the upcoming public hearing process" that had been scheduled for September 2014.
After considering information and submissions from Bruce Power CNSC staff concluded that the amendment 'will not adversely impact the safety of the Bruce NGSs A and B operations,' and granted a seven-month extension.
The operating licenses for Bruce A and B are now valid until 31 May, 2015. Public hearings for the renewal of the reactor operating licenses have been tentatively scheduled for early February 2015 in Ottawa and mid April in Kincardine.
The eight-unit Bruce Power Nuclear Generating Station, located in Ontario, Canada is the largest operating nuclear power plant in the world. The station comprises eight 904 MW CANDU reactors.
Photo: Bruce A from the air
