Complete letter sent to the Globe and Mail in response to June 29 article ''Reactor design puts safety of plants into question''

Only a portion of this letter was published on the Globe and Mail’s Web site on July 1, 2009.

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) would like to clarify the misrepresentation of your June 29 article regarding the safety of Canada’s nuclear power plants.

CANDU reactors have operated safely for more than 30 years and the CNSC has the regulatory responsibility for ensuring that they continue to do so in the future.

The positive reactivity feedback characteristic of CANDU reactors is not a new discovery. It is well understood by the CNSC and nuclear power plant operators. In fact, CANDU reactor safety systems were designed to respond to this characteristic and shutdown the reactor before fuel fails. That is why, contrary to many other reactor designs, CANDU reactors are protected by two fast-acting shutdown systems, which are independent, diverse and fully-effective and would counteract any event related to the positive coefficient of reactivity.

As part of its ongoing regulatory oversight and analysis, the CNSC continues to update and undertake research to ensure a clear understanding of any potential challenges with current nuclear facilities. It is in this context that the referenced document was prepared. This was explained to the reporter during the interview with CNSC staff. It was therefore surprising that the reporter misunderstood and misrepresented the issue.

As the federal regulator, the CNSC ensures that the safety cases for all reactors meet safety goals and that all nuclear power plant operators make adequate provision for the protection of the environment, the health and safety of persons, and the maintenance of national security.

Michael Binder
President and CEO
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission