Regulatory Infrastructure
in Canada
Karen Mayer, B.Sc.
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
e-Docs # 4458868
nuclearsafety.gc.ca
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
(CNSC)
• Established in May 2000,
under the Nuclear Safety and
Control Act (NSCA)
• Replaced the Atomic Energy
control Board (AECB),
established in 1946, under
the Atomic Energy Control
Act
• Exclusive jurisdiction over all
nuclear related matters in
Canada
Canada’s Independent Nuclear
Regulator
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
2
CNSC Mandate
• Regulate the use of nuclear energy
and materials so that the health,
safety and security of Canadians and
the environment are protected
• Implement Canada’s international
commitments on the peaceful use of
nuclear energy
• Disseminate objective scientific,
technical and regulatory information
to the public.
We are Canada’s nuclear watchdog!
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
3
The Commission and Staff
•Permanent Commission Members
•Dr. Michael
Binder
•Dr. Sandy
McEwan
•Dr. J.
Moyra J.
McDill
•Dr.
Ronald J.
Barriault
•Ms.
Rumina
Velshi
•Mr. Dan D.
Tolgyesi
•Mr. André
Harvey
•CNSC Staff
•Commission Secretariat
•Legal Service
•Regulatory Operations Branch
•Technical Support Branch
•Corporate Services Branch
•Regulatory Affairs Branch
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
4
CNSC (DNSR) Staff Locations
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
5
Regulatory Framework
Act
Regulations
Licences and Licence
Conditions and
Certificates
Regulatory Documents
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
6
Types of Licences
There are over 2600 licences in the CNSC database
covering the following general areas:
– Medical (18%)
– Research & Teaching (11%)
– Industrial & Commercial (71%)
The CNSC employs a risk-informed regulatory approach
for licensing and compliance verification
– Low
– Medium
– High
• Industrial Radiography (approx 112 active licences)
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
7
Industrial Radiography – Use-type 812 (5%)
• Non-destructive
testing of welds &
castings or buildings
• Portable for use in
field situations
• Use:
– Ir-192 (5 TBq)
– Co-60 (11 TBq)
– Se-75 (5 TBq)
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
8
Overview of Licensing Process
•Licence application
A
P
P
L
I
C
A
N
T
Licensing process
•Technical
assessment
•QA Review / Licence
Recommendation
L
I
C
E
N
S
I
N
G
– Risk-informed
– Effective
– Integrated
– Responsive
– Consistent
– Transparent
– Open
– Process-based
•Licence
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
9
Guidance for licensees
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
10
Regulatory Obligations
• Nuclear Substances and Radiation Devices
Regulations – sections 24 to 34 are specific to:
– Exposure Devices
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Requirement for Operators
Application for Certification of Operator
Refusal to Certify
Decertification
Opportunity to be Heard
Surrender of Certificate
Obligations of Licensees
Obligations of Operators
Appointment of Supervisors of Trainees
Obligations of Supervisors of Trainees
Replacement of Sealed Sources
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
11
Compliance Verification
• Inspections
– Audit
– Site inspection
• Annual compliance
reports
• Event reports
– Reports required by Act &
Regulations
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
12
Types of Inspections
• Type II Inspection
– Most common inspection
– Frequency- annually
– “Snapshot” of licensee’s compliance
– Records or field/worksite
– One or two inspectors for a few hours
• Type I Inspection
– No defined frequency
– “Audit” of licensee’s program
– Typically reserved for large licensees, or for complex
programs
– Significant effort – team of CNSC staff for multiple days
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
13
Graduated Enforcement
• Applied by CNSC staff when a licensee is
out of compliance
• Reasonable and escalating measures
• As safety significance increases, so do the graduated
enforcement actions
– Orders and Administrative Monetary Penalties
(AMPs) are issued for severe non-compliance
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
14
Graduated Enforcement (Continued)
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
15
Industrial Radiography – Orders
issued
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
16
Miscellaneous
• CNSC staff training
– ITQP inspectors
– Conducting Technical Assessments
– External training
• Emergency Response
– CNSC staff role – reporting do not act as
consultants
• Root Cause Analysis
– Onus on licensees
• Radiography Strategy
– CNSC/Industrial Radiography Working Group
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
17
Thank you
Karen Mayer
karen.mayer@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
18