Cooperation Plan

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Document reference number: 254

Peace River Nuclear Power Project
June 9, 2025
Draft Version

Draft Cooperation Plan

IMPACT ASSESSMENT AGENCY OF CANADA – GOVERNMENT OF ALBERTA

IMPACT ASSESSMENT COOPERATION PLAN FOR THE PEACE RIVER NUCLEAR POWER PROJECT

June 9, 2025

1. Introduction

The Peace River Nuclear Power Project (the project) includes physical activities regulated under the Impact Assessment Act (IAA) and the Nuclear Safety and Control Act (NSCA), so the assessment process, if an Impact Assessment (IA) is determined to be required, will be undertaken in an integrated manner to include regulatory requirements from the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). Pursuant to section 43 of the IAA, the Minister must refer to a review panel designated projects that include physical activities regulated under the NSCA. The review panel will conduct an integrated impact assessment (integrated assessment) that follows the framework outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding on Integrated Impact Assessments Under the Impact Assessment Act between the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (MOU).

IAAC and the CNSC will cooperate with the common objective that both legislative requirements are achieved in a single integrated assessment, with an assessment outcome including both a federal decision under the IAA, and an initial licensing decision under the NSCA.

The draft Cooperation Plan (the Plan) was developed by IAAC and the CNSC to set out intentions and plans for a cooperative assessment process for the project. The Alberta Ministry of the Environment and Protected Areas (AEPA) and other potential participating Alberta ministries and regulatory boards (participating ministries and regulatory boards) will be consulted during the preparation of the final version of this plan.

Although the project is under federal jurisdiction of the IAA and the NSCA, activities related to the project may be subject to provincial EA requirements under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act, and/or to provincial permitting and approval requirements that include an assessment of environmental effects.

2. Project

Energy Alberta (the proponent) is proposing the construction of two twin CANDU MONARK (four in total) nuclear reactors, located approximately 30 kilometres north of the town of Peace River, Alberta. As proposed, the Peace River Nuclear Power Project would cover 1,424 hectares in area and provide up to 4,800 megawatts of nuclear power in Alberta, with an operational lifespan of approximately 70 years. The generated energy would be sold to Alberta consumers and industry through the Alberta electrical grid.

For more information on the integrated assessment of the project or to view the information and comments received, visit the Peace River Nuclear Power Project page on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry (the Registry) at https://iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/evaluations/proj/89430.

3. Approach to cooperation

Through cooperation, IAAC, the CNSC and potential participating ministries and regulatory boards - see Appendix 1 - will strive to increase efficiency and certainty for the proponent, as well as for the public and Indigenous Nations and communities, and ensure that the best available expertise is shared and applied. Where possible, IAAC and the CNSC may coordinate activities with any participating ministries and regulatory boards, including harmonizing timelines and streamlining processes, in order to best share expertise and reduce redundancies in the review process. Each jurisdiction will retain its own decision-making authority in accordance with their respective legislative requirements.

The Plan is intended to be flexible and does not preclude IAAC, the CNSC or any participating ministries and regulatory boards from making changes to the cooperative approach described in this plan in order to accommodate changes that may occur during this assessment process, or any provincial assessment or permitting process that may be required in the future – see Appendix 2.

4. Timelines and time management

Timelines for the integrated assessment process are legislated under the IAA. When possible, IAAC and the CNSC will provide any participating ministries and regulatory boards with advanced notices of opportunities for cooperation. IAAC, the CNSC and any participating ministries and regulatory boards may align milestones and activities during the integrated assessment process, when appropriate. IAAC and the CNSC will also work with any participating ministries and regulatory boards to ensure that timely and effective communication occurs throughout the integrated assessment process.

IAAC recognizes that efforts to align respective timelines do not supersede legislative obligations concerning time limits, which are prescribed in the IAA, Alberta's Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act, and other relevant provincial legislation.

5. Sharing of information

All information relevant to the integrated assessment of the project will be posted by IAAC or the review panel on the Registry. As such, any participating ministries and regulatory boards will have access to the public record for the integrated assessment. The Registry contains all comments and submissions from participants in the assessment, including the public, Indigenous Nations communities, federal departments, provincial ministries, in addition to all information submitted by the proponent.

IAAC, the CNSC and any participating ministries and regulatory boards will respect requirements related to privacy and confidentiality, including protection of Indigenous Knowledge, when sharing or publicly posting information.

IAAC and the CNSC will share with any participating ministries and regulatory boards, as appropriate, the following information obtained during the assessment of the project. More opportunities for cooperation may be identified and developed at each stage of the regulatory process:

6. Public participation and participant funding

If the province or proponent identify any comment periods for potential EA processes or for any permits and approval applications that may be required, IAAC and the CNSC will collaborate with any participating ministries and regulatory boards to align comment periods with the integrated assessment, to the extent possible, and include links to each others' websites, coordinate public notices, and share comments received, where appropriate.

Funding to support public participation in the integrated assessment process is available through IAAC's Participant Funding Program. For information about the activities that are eligible for funding or to apply for funding please see the National Program Guidelines and application on the following page https://www.canada.ca/en/environmental-assessment-agency/services/public-participation/participant-funding-application-environmental-assessment.html.

For further information on public participation and engagement activities, please see the project's draft Public Participation Plan.

7. Indigenous consultation and engagement

IAAC will lead Crown Consultation on behalf of the Government of Canada for this assessment, in collaboration with the CNSC. If applicable, Alberta would be responsible for Crown Consultation for applicable provincial decisions.

IAAC will coordinate, to the extent possible and as desired by Indigenous Nations and communities, with the province while respecting the principles of Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession (OCAP) and Indigenous Data Sovereignty.

Where Alberta also has consultation obligations, federal and provincial consultation and engagement can be aligned, where appropriate and supported by Indigenous Nations and communities, to minimize consultation fatigue and share information, while ensuring Indigenous Nations and communities have the capacity to meaningfully participate.

For further information on proposed Indigenous consultation and engagement activities as part of the integrated assessment process, please see the project's Indigenous Engagement and Partnership Plan.

8. Decision Statement

If applicable, IAAC, the CNSC and any participating ministries and regulatory boards will consult with each other regarding draft Impact Assessment conditions to ensure consistency of conditions and improve regulatory efficiencies.

9. Interpretation

This Plan is not a legal document and does not change any existing federal, provincial, or Indigenous legislative or regulatory jurisdiction, right, power, privilege, prerogative or immunity by virtue, nor does it create any new legal powers, duties or legally binding obligations.

10. Contact Information

The IAAC office designated for administering the integrated assessment of the project in collaboration with the CNSC is:

Integrated Assessment for the Peace River Nuclear Power Project
Impact Assessment Agency of Canada
Review Panel Division
160 Elgin Street, 22^nd Floor
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3
Email: peacenuclear-nucleairepaix@iaac-aeic.gc.ca

Appendix 1

Table A1. Alberta Ministries and Regulatory Boards Potentially Participating in the Integrated Assessment

Appendix 2

Table A2. Alberta Ministry Regulatory Mechanism References