(PETERBOROUGH, ON – November 23, 2021) – BWXT Nuclear Energy Canada Inc. (BWXT), a subsidiary of BWXT Canada Ltd., announced today that it has completed routine soil sampling for the presence of uranium and beryllium at several sites in Peterborough, including the Prince of Wales Public School across from its facility on Monaghan Road.

Natural uranium fuel pellets produced at the company’s Toronto-based facility are shipped to BWXT’s Peterborough facility on Monaghan Road where they are assembled into CANDU fuel bundles to help power approximately a quarter of Ontario. Beryllium is a metal used in small amounts to join portions of the fuel bundle together as part of the manufacturing process.

Uranium is a naturally occurring, weakly radioactive element which is present at low levels in the environment and is found in soil, rocks, water and air. Beryllium is a lightweight but strong metal found naturally in the earth’s crust and is used in the production of electronics like cell phones and pacemakers. The uses of both uranium and beryllium are controlled by an extensive program that protects the health and safety of employees, the public and the environment.

Soil samples were obtained and then analyzed by an independent outside laboratory. All results for both uranium and beryllium are well below the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment’s (CCME) guidelines for the protection of environmental and human health. The lowest CCME guidelines for uranium for the protection of environmental health is 33 mg/kg and 23 mg/kg for human health. According to the CCME, concentration of uranium in soil worldwide is about 2 mg/kg, whereas samples taken for BWXT did not exceed 1.0 mg/kg. The lowest CCME guidelines for beryllium for the protection of environmental health is 4 mg/kg and 75 mg/kg for human health. According to the CCME, concentration of beryllium in soil in Canada ranges from 0.25 mg/kg to 16 mg/kg and averages 0.75 mg/kg, whereas samples taken for BWXT did not exceed 0.55 mg/kg. The full report is available on BWXT NEC’s website at nec.bwxt.com.

“Similar to last year’s soil sample results for the presence of beryllium in soil, these test results for both uranium and beryllium remain significantly lower than the level regarded as safe by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. This further confirms that our controls continue to be effective in protecting the public and the environment,” said John MacQuarrie, president of BWXT Nuclear Energy Canada Inc. “Our dedicated workforce is committed to maintaining safe operations that positively impacts the environment while helping to build a strong community.”

###

About BWXT Canada Ltd.

BWXT Canada Ltd. (BWXT Canada) has over 60 years of expertise and experience in the design, manufacturing, commissioning and service of nuclear power generation equipment. This includes steam generators, nuclear fuel and fuel components, critical plant components, parts and related plant services. BWXT Canada’s sister company, BWXT Medical Ltd. provides its customers, who conduct life-saving medical procedures for patients around the world, the benefit of decades of experience in the development, manufacturing, packaging and delivery of medical isotopes and radiopharmaceuticals. Headquartered in Cambridge, Ontario, BWXT in Canada has approximately 1,500 employees at locations in Cambridge, Dundas, Peterborough, Toronto, Arnprior, Pickering, Port Elgin, Owen Sound, Kanata and Oakville, Ontario and Vancouver, British Columbia. BWXT Canada is a subsidiary of BWX Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: BWXT). Follow us on Twitter @BWXTech and learn more atwww.bwxt.com.

Media Contact                                                                    

Natalie Cutler
Director, Communications, BWXT Canada Ltd.
519-620-5288
nacutler@bwxt.com