Laurentis’s research initiative in Hamilton granted first NSRD licence by the CNSC
Laurentis has successfully been granted its first Nuclear Substance Radiation Devices (NSRD) licence by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) for its Clean Energy Materials Sorting and Recycling (CMSR) Research Initiative in Hamilton, Ontario. The license was achieved in one year, from concept to startup and operation.
A joint research project between Laurentis Energy Partners and McMaster University, the Hamilton CMSR is making important strides toward advancing research and development in nuclear-energy innovations and supporting environmental solutions across the nuclear industry. The facility achieves this by exploring new techniques to process low-level nuclear byproducts.
An NSRD licence allows the possession, use, transfer, and storage of nuclear substances, as outlined and licenced by the CNSC. Prior to being granted its own licence for the facility, Laurentis was operating under licences held by McMaster and permits approved by the University's Health Physics Advisory Committee.
As a world leader in nuclear research, McMaster was uniquely positioned to apply its experience and robust Radiation Safety Program to support this collaborative research endeavor, according to McMaster's Health Physics Director, Josip Zic.
"Laurentis has demonstrated exemplary safety culture in their approach to this work and developed a team of highly trained individuals that are well positioned to develop innovative techniques to process low-level nuclear byproducts and provide a hands-on learning experience for students supporting this project," said Zic.
"The Laurentis NSRD licence is a testament to the quality of work, commitment to safety and the continued compliance to all regulations and protocols that is demonstrated day-in and day-out at the CMSR facility," said Daniel Orr, CMSR Site Manager. "We wouldn't be where we are today without the expertise and foundation laid by McMaster or the performance and nuclear professionalism displayed by all CMSR staff."
In mid-January 2022, the permits for the facility are expected to be officially transferred from McMaster to Laurentis, enabling the project to operate under its own NSRD and Laurentis to expand its research and capabilities as a leader in sustainable solutions for the nuclear industry.
"This is an important milestone for Laurentis as it's not only our first CNSC licence, allowing the CMSR facility to have its own nuclear site governance, but it was granted roughly one year ahead of time," said Imtiaz Malek, Laurentis Regulatory Affairs. "If that doesn't speak to the level of excellence and demonstrated proficiency of the staff at the CMSR facility, I'm not sure what does."
Though the team is proud of their processing targets and volume reduction rates to-date, CMSR Operations Manager, Erik Rogerson, outlined the importance of the research and development work at the laboratory and the necessity to progress towards sustainable solutions for nuclear plant operation, refurbishment and decommissioning. "What we have in mind will change the past, present and future of nuclear sustainability," said Rogerson. "We've only just gotten started."
For more information on the Hamilton CMSR research initiative, click here.
