Item 3 - Darlington New Nuclear Build, License Renewal Hearing
That Report PDS-025-21 be received; and
That Council adopt the following resolution:
That the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station has been a significant part of the Municipality of Clarington since the 1980s, and has provided many positive benefits to the community with minimal adverse effects on the natural environment;
That the Municipality of Clarington Council and Staff have attended numerous meetings and information sessions with respect to the Darlington New Nuclear Power Plant Project and are therefore very knowledgeable with respect to the Project; and
That the Municipality of Clarington retained a qualified team of professionals to undertake a detailed peer review of the draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Darlington New Nuclear Power Plant Project and, on the basis of this peer review, can state with confidence that the Environmental Impact Statement meets the requirements of the Guidelines for the preparation of the document and that it satisfactorily addresses the Municipality's issues and concerns with respect to the Project;
That the Municipality of Clarington's peer review of the Environmental Impact Statement for the Darlington New Nuclear Power Plant Project agreed with the study’s conclusions;
That Council and the residents of the Municipality of Clarington have been steadfast in their support for the proposed Darlington New Nuclear Power Plant Project and are eager to have nuclear power generation continue as a positive presence in our community;
That Council and the community of Clarington are very supportive of the use of Small Modular Reactors (SMR) as it would avoid the use of cooling towers, thus minimizing any associated socio-economic impacts for Clarington and Durham Region, for the Darlington New Nuclear Power Plant Project;
That Clarington Staff has worked with representatives of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Durham Region and Ontario Power Generation to ensure that sensitive land uses are addressed within the three-kilometer buffer zone;
That many traffic and transportation network improvements have been implemented over the past decade to address potential deficiencies within the network and Clarington Staff have reviewed the findings of the updated Traffic Assessment Report, September 2019; and
That the Council of the Municipality of Clarington hereby advises the CNSC that it supports the Darlington New Nuclear Power Plant Project and strongly supports the use of SMR technology;
That the Mayor and Senior Staff accept the invitation of the CNSC to appear at the hearing in June to outline the Municipality’s support for the project, our involvement and comments as set out in Report PSD-010-11 and reaffirmed in this Report PDS-025-21; and
That the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and Ontario Power Generation and all interested parties be notified of Council’s decision.