The regulation of nuclear power stations in Canada

The Canadian approach to licensing nuclear power stations is outlined. The Atomic Energy Control Board is responsible for the licensing process, which has three stages: site approval, the granting of a construction license, and the issuing of the operating licence. At each stage the Board must be satisfied that all safety criteria are met. Individual shift supervisors and control room operators are licensed by the Board. Canadian safety philosophy is based on design in depth. Provision of three independent channels of protection within the safety system, two independent shutdown systems, and two physically separate groups of control circuitry make CANDU-based power statons intrinsically safe. The responsibility for proving a station's safety rests with its owners. (LL)