Nuclear Legacy Liabilities Program

Nuclear legacy liabilities are the result of over 60 years of nuclear research and development conducted by the National Research Council of Canada (1944 to 1952) and Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL, 1952 to present) on behalf of the Government of Canada.  The liabilities consist of outdated and unused research buildings and associated infrastructure, a wide variety of buried and stored radioactive waste, and affected lands.

The Nuclear Legacy Liabilities Program (NLLP) is a Government of Canada program to safely and cost-effectively reduce legacy liabilities and associated risks at AECL sites, based on sound waste management and environmental principles, in the best interests of Canadians.

In 2006, the Government of Canada launched the NLLP with a $520 million funding commitment for a five-year start-up phase. The Program is implementing a long-term strategy that will run for up to 70 years.

The NLLP is being implemented in partnership by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and AECL. NRCan represents the interests of the Government and provides policy direction; oversees implementation; and ensures value for money, transparency and accountability. NRCan also leads public consultation activities related to the further development of the long-term strategy. AECL implements the program of work and is responsible for holding and administering all licences, facilities and lands.

For more information, visit www.NuclearLegacyProgram.ca.