Advice from Canadian and U.S. Nuclear Agencies on the Renomination of Radionuclides as a Chemical of Concern

Posted: February 29, 2024

Radionuclides were nominated for consideration as candidate substances for designation as a Chemical of Mutual Concern (CMC) under the Canada-United States Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement in 2016.  In response to that nomination, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) sought advice from their respective nuclear regulatory agencies. Both The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) undertook a comprehensive and detailed review of the concerns raised in the nomination, with each Agency documenting their analysis in 2017.

In 2021, ECCC and U.S. EPA released the Binational Screening Criteria for Nominated Chemicals of Concern to provide a consistent framework for reviewing nominated CMCs.  In response to these screening criteria, radionuclides were re-nominated by stakeholders in 2022.  ECCC and U.S. EPA once again sought advice from the CNSC and NRC.  Both Agencies undertook a detailed review of the concerns raised in the re-nomination, with each Agency documenting their analysis.

*Link to: Evaluation of the Renomination of Radionuclides as Chemicals of Mutual Concern Under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (February 2024)

*Link to: Assessment of the Relevance of the Inclusion of Radionuclides as a Chemical of Mutual Concern Under Annex 3 of the Canada-United States Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (September 2017)

*Link to: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Response to the Renomination of Radionuclides as Chemicals of Mutual Concern under Annex 3 of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (October 2023)

*Link to: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Response to the Nomination of Radionuclides as Chemicals of Mutual Concern under Annex 3 of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (January 2017)

Canada and the U.S. will consider the advice of these agencies in their evaluation of this nominated substance.

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