Port Hope, Ontario — Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) and the Municipality of Port Hope have reached a long-term agreement that extends Canada’s responsibility to safely manage eligible historic low-level radioactive waste in Port Hope for up to 100 years after the Port Hope Long-Term Waste Management Facility closes. The facility is managed by Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL).
This significantly extends the current 20-year post-closure period, providing long-term certainty for residents, property owners, and the Municipality. Once the PHAI project is complete, a designated access point will remain open at the Port Hope LTWMF with disposal capacity to ensure the facility can safely accept any low-level radioactive waste encountered during future renovations, repairs, or infrastructure projects.
As the Port Hope Area Initiative (PHAI) has progressed—particularly on private properties—it has become clear that it is not always practical or beneficial to remove all of the eligible waste from every location. Now, property owners have more choice and flexibility. If they choose to leave eligible low-level radioactive waste undisturbed beneath existing features such as mature trees or landscaping, they can address the radiological material later, if needed.
For the first 20 years following completion of the Long-Term Waste Management Facility:
- Canada will continue to cover both the transportation and long-term management of eligible low-level radioactive waste. Property owners will still be responsible for excavation and restoration costs.
The facility will continue to accept the same eligible materials currently managed through the PHAI, including both radiological contaminants and certain associated non-radiological contaminants addressed under the project. Beyond the first 20 years and up to 100 years after the closure:
- Canada will continue to provide long-term storage at the facility, while property owners will still be responsible for excavation and restoration, and transportation costs, if waste is encountered during future work.
- The facility will only accept material contaminated with radium, thorium, or uranium (radiologically contaminated material), while other material (e.g., soils contaminated with non-radiological material such as arsenic) will need to be managed through provincial systems.
This agreement gives homeowners greater confidence and flexibility in making decisions about their properties. It provides a clear, regulated pathway for managing historic waste well into the future, removing concerns about what would happen once the project is complete. Homeowners who choose not to participate today can be assured that there will still be a safe option available in the future if conditions change.
The PHAI is the fully funded, federal program for addressing historic waste in Port Hope. Participation is voluntary, and homeowners who participate continue to receive comprehensive remediation and restoration at no cost, with waste safely transported and managed by Canada through Atomic Energy of Canada Limited and its contractor Canadian Nuclear Laboratories.
This agreement provides added certainty, choice, and long-term protection for the community, while supporting a vibrant and growing Port Hope.