The federal government has unveiled a five-year plan to clean up radioactive waste at sites managed by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited.
INDEPTH: Nuclear
The government said Friday that the $520-million plan will cover research and development activities dating back to the 1940s and the start of nuclear technologies and nuclear medicine in Canada.
In some cases buildings will be dismantled or decommissioned; in others new buildings or facilities will be constructed for the processing and storage of radioactive wastes.
CANDU not covered
However, the plan will not cover spent fuel from CANDU reactors since that material is managed by a different agency.
Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn made the announcement in a news conference at the Chalk River nuclear laboratories near Deep River, Ont., about 200 kilometres northwest of Ottawa.
Public consultations will also be held to work out details of a long-term strategy dealing with the cleanup, the government said in a news release.
The government said more than half of the liabilities being dealt with right now are the result of Cold War activities undertaken in the 1940s, 1950s and early 1960s.
"The remaining liabilities stem from the research and development of medical isotopes and nuclear reactor technology, as well as national science programs," the press release said.
AECL has facilities at Chalk River, Ont., as well as the Whiteshell Laboratories at Pinawa, Man., and three prototype reactors in Quebec and Ontario.