Chalk River Information Bulletin

(2009 August 04) Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) releases two video updates of its National Research Universal (NRU) Return to Service Plan activities, including a more detailed look at the non-destructive examinations currently under way at Chalk River Laboratories.

The videos feature NRU Return to Service Project Director, David Cox, and AECL Research Scientist, Hélène Hébert, who outline some of the preparation work necessary in advance of repairing the reactor. Viewers can learn how sound waves are being used by AECL to determine the thickness of the reactor vessel walls. A full-scale mock-up of a portion of the NRU has been constructed at AECL and can be seen on the video update.

The videos can be downloaded at AECL's NRUCanada.ca website, developed to keep stakeholders informed of the NRU Return to Service Plan, or at http://cnw.pathfireondemand.com/viewpackage.action?packageid=204.

AECL's top priority is returning the NRU reactor to service as safely and as quickly as possible. Guidance on the duration of the shutdown continues to be founded on the best evidence of a reactor vessel condition assessment currently underway. Evidence collected to date continues to support AECL's belief that the necessary vessel repairs can be made and that NRU will be returned to service.

AECL continues to work very closely with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), and CNSC safety inspectors are directly involved at the Chalk River site.

There is no threat to workers, the public, the environment or nuclear safety related to this event.

Real-time RSS news subscriptions available at NRUCanada.ca.

For further information:

Dale Coffin
Director, Corporate Communications
AECL, 1-866-886-(AECL) 2325