Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission staff seem supportive of Bruce Power's request for a five-year licence renewal, and to combine the Bruce A and Bruce B Licences.
Bruce Power CAO Duncan Hawthorne told the commission at a hearing this morning that all eight units are now operating at the highest standard despite a period of rapid and significant work. He says as the reactors age, the focus is in life cycle asset management.
He says they are also in talks with the province to supply future power, which would require additional units to be refurbished. That is not included in this licence.
Bruce Powers Frank Saunders explained many of the safety mechanisms that have been put in place.
Hawthorne says they have determined and prepared for all kinds of risks in the wake of the Fukushima disaster.
"(They) added, essentially, a whole new layer of protection to the site, so we now have emergency mitigating equipment, in essence emergency pumps and generators, and other things, added a whole new layer of defence that was simply not there before," he says.
Hawthorne says a number of steps have been taken to improve safety and communication, such as a new emergency text message system, and a new FM emergency transmission system. He also points to new automated radiation monitors in the region, and a new emergency web site to aid residents in the event of an emergency.
Hawthorn adds that Bruce Power's flexibility in lowering its output by veering steam, to allow for wind energy on the grid if it's a windy day.
Hawthorne told the commission the accident rate has been greatly reduced at the site since they took over operations in 2001. They are also taking steps for environmental safety and sustainability.
The commission also heard how Bruce Power has expanded the workforce, and reduced the average age of employees.
Hawthorne says they are working to reduce radiation exposure to employees as well.
"(Bruce Power is investing in) things that allow us to do things from a system as opposed to having employees on a reactor face. Over the course of the last five years we spent $250-million to procure and sometimes design new robotic equipment."
The commission seemed supportive of a plan to allow Bruce Power to continue to operate the pressure tubes in all units beyond the predicted lifespan of 210,000 full power hours, up to 245,000. Bruce Power says the tubes are rigorously tested for safety.
CNSC spokesmen Howden Barclay concluded the formal presentation by saying Bruce Power is qualified to carry on the activities authorized by the licence.
"In carrying out the licensed activity, Bruce Power has made and will continue to make the protection of the environment, the health and safety of persons, and the maintenance of national security, and measures required to implement international obligations to which Canada has agreed," says Barclay.
A second day of hearings will be held in Kincardine on April 14-16 at The Royal Canadian Legion, located at 219 Lambton St in Kincardine.
Green Peace submitted a letter of concern the Canadian Nuclear Safety commission hearing to licence Bruce Power. It will be addressed at the second day of the hearing, in April.
Among the concerns, Green Peace suggests Bruce Power's Probabilistic Risk Assessments summary was not as thorough as those released by Ontario Power Generation, and did not make public risk estimates from severe releases. Their request also questions if severe core damage in the high wind risk assessment included winds speeds equal to the Goderich tornado.
Green Peace is also concerned that a regulatory loophole allows Ontario's multi-unit nuclear stations to impose higher risk on surrounding communities than the single Point Lepreau unit in New Brunswick. And they call on the commission to look at the cumulative risk of the site, considering the request to combine the licences for Bruce A and Bruce B.
Green Peace also stresses that the public relies on the commission to ensure transparency at Bruce Power, because it is the only Canadian Nuclear Operator not subject to Freedom of Information Legislation.