Under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, Canada and the United States have agreed to identify chemicals of mutual concern (CMC) that originate from anthropogenic (human) sources, and that are agreed to by both countries as being potentially harmful to human health or the environment and develop strategies to reduce their release into the waters of the Great Lakes.
Canada and the United States have completed the screening of the nomination of radionuclides as a possible CMC.
Canada and the United States have determined that no additional binational action for radionuclides under the GLWQA is warranted at this time based on the criteria-based screening of radionuclides and based on comprehensive and detailed technical assessments completed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC).
The criteria-based screening and technical assessments, as well as advice received from CNSC and NRC concluded that:
- radionuclide levels remain well below well-established radiation health sciences guidelines and reference levels in the Great Lakes waters;
- radionuclide exposure has decreased despite increased use of nuclear power in the Great Lakes basin; and
- risks to the environment, health and safety are effectively minimized within the Great Lakes due to comprehensive regulatory management regimes in both Canada and the United States which cover nuclear facility design, operation and management, emissions and effluent controls and monitoring, environmental monitoring, environment management systems and the transport of radioactive materials.
Domestically, there is ongoing monitoring of nuclear facilities and extensive safety controls provided by nuclear regulations in both countries that address radionuclides.