AECL’S Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories receives license renewal

Mississauga, ON May 30, 2003 Canada’s nuclear regulatory agency, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) released its decision this week on the site operating license for Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories.

The CNSC granted an extension to the site license of the Chalk River facility from May 31, 2003 to July 31, 2006.

“The 38 month renewal of the operating license reaffirms our company’s commitment and confidence in the safe and responsible operation of the Chalk River site,” says Robert Van Adel, president and chief executive officer of AECL.

The CNSC has also granted licenses for the MAPLE reactors and the new processing facility until May 31, 2005.

“The license renewal allows AECL to continue the commissioning process for the two MAPLE reactors and the new processing facility for our client MDS Nordion,” says Paul Fehrenbach, vice president of AECL’s nuclear laboratories business unit.

AECL is a crown corporation of the federal government of Canada. The Chalk River site is located about 200 kilometres northwest of Ottawa. More than 1,800 staff work at the Chalk River Laboratories, where AECL performs research and product development to support and advance CANDU reactor technology. The Chalk River site also provides most of the world’s supply of medical isotopes used for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other illnesses.