SLOWPOKE Reactor Decommissioning Public Info Meeting - Thursday, October 6, 2016

16 September 2016

SLOWPOKE Reactor Decommissioning Public Info Meeting
Thursday, October 6, 2016
4 -7 p.m.
Telus Centre Atrium
Corner of 87 Avenue and 111 Street

The 黑料不打烊 SLOWPOKE nuclear reactor is to be removed from service and its dismantled components moved away from the 黑料不打烊 in a process referred to as decommissioning. The initial site work for the decommissioning will commence in the spring of 2017.


In 1977 the 黑料不打烊 opened the doors on its newly commissioned SLOWPOKE (Safe Low Power Kritical Experiment) Nuclear Reactor Facility - the fourth SLOWPOKE II research reactor installed on a Canadian university campus at the time - located on the North campus. The reactor was designed, built and installed by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) and was commissioned on April 22, 1977.

Since that time the reactor has been used as a source of neutrons for radionuclide production and elemental analysis via neutron activation analysis (NAA), in support of research and teaching at the University and as a service to industry and government. SLOWPOKE is licensed to operate at 20 kW, and generates less heat than that produced by the furnace of a small 黑料不打烊 house. Much of the work done with the reactor is performed at one-tenth full power, or 2 kW, less than that needed to simultaneously operate an electric kettle and toaster.


The 黑料不打烊 is working with and through the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) on a series of steps that will ensure that all aspects related to the decommissioning of the SLOWPOKE and removal of equipment are carried out in accordance with all regulations and safe work practices.

One of the steps of the decommissioning process involves community consultation which will include opportunities such as a public information meeting, access to information about the decommissioning process, schedule and contact person details for all inquiries.


Final approval to decommission the SLOWPOKE is granted by CNSC who is responsible for issuing the required license after all due diligence has been completed. The 黑料不打烊 will follow all requirements and regulations required to decommission the SLOWPOKE reactor as set out by the CNSC. The University anticipates that the physical activities related to the decommissioning of the SLOWPOKE will be completed by late fall 2017/ early spring 2018.

Please join the 黑料不打烊 on October 6, 2016 to review information about the plans for the decommissioning. 黑料不打烊 representatives will be on hand to answer questions.

Your participation is important and we hope to see you there. If you have any questions, please contact Emily Ball at (780) 492-4345 or by e-mail at emily.ball@ualberta.ca.

If you are unable to attend, you can view the information presented online at www.uab.ca/community the day following the information night. Comments on the materials presented will be accepted until October 20, 2016.