“And when we disseminate alert, the emergency information, that they listen to it and they adhere to the guidance within the information,” Brown said. I'm right in the midst of it and that was pretty scary. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. About 200 workers were involved in the cleanup. There was no incident at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station that should have triggered public notification. An emergency alert message was blasted out across the province warning of an unspecified emergency at the Pickering nuclear power station in … 04:28 PM - … According to a report by Ian Fairlie, radiation biologist from the U.K. and released by the Ontario Clean Air Alliance in 2018, A Fukushima-type disaster at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station could lead to 26,000 cancers and $125 billion in lost home values. When you read DurhamRegion.com you are supporting local journalism. The plant has experienced several accidents of varying severity throughout its nearly 50 years of operation, including a major incident in 1983 which caused major damage to one of its reactors and cost an estimated $1 billion CAD to fix. At about 7:25 a.m. on Sunday, the province said an incident was reported at the station, located off of Montgomery Park Road in Pickering. The Ontario government admitted to erroneously sending out a mass alert telling of an “incident” at Pickering Nuclear Generating Station on Sunday, sending people across the region into a panic. Toronto I wouldn't believe #pickering if they say the alert was a mistake this could mean there is an ongoing problem or there was a near catastrophic miss. "The alert was issued in error to the public during a routine training exercise being conducted by the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre," Sylvia Jones said in a statement on Sunday. … How a nuclear reactor got shut down by accident in Ontario. While the AECB pondered Pickering’s future, Ontario Hydro officials predicted that it would take at least a month before Unit No. "There has been NO abnormal release of radioactivity from the station and emergency staff are responding to the situation," the alert read. By ticking this box I agree to receive the chosen newsletter(s), including promotional, programming, marketing and other survey emails. When Cheryl Lewis-Thurab saw the emergency alert on her phone Sunday morning, she said it immediately frightened her. An emergency alert indicating a problem at Pickering's nuclear plant was a false alarm, but a big wake up call to many in its vicinity. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. What would happen in the event of a real nuclear mishap? This created a series of small cracks which linked up and caused the long rupture. The emergency alert issued by the Province earlier this morning was sent out in error. It has experienced several earlier incidents. The Emergency Core Cooling System was used to prevent a meltdown. For many years, OPG’s Pickering Nuclear Generating Station (GS) has been a proud part of the Pickering community, playing an important role in delivering clean, reliable power for Ontario. “We want to verify all the information on exactly what was happening to confirm if this was sent out an error or if this was a real-life situation. Speaking to CBC News, Jones said that while there was no threat to public safety in this instance, in the event of an actual emergency, she would rather that an alert go out widely than to be limited to a more narrow region. There is no danger to the public or environment. With everything that's happening today, you can think, 'OK, is this a terrorist or something? Jones said the alert was sent during a routine maintenance test to ensure the system is ready. I have spoken to the Province, and am demanding that a full investigation take place. Here's how Ontario would respond to a real nuclear emergency, False alert about Pickering nuclear plant caused widespread alarm, but some residents 'not worried', Pickering Mayor Dave Ryan says he is pleased with the response from the province after Sunday's erroneous emergency alert but that the length of time taken to retract the alert is 'totally unacceptable.'. ; The alert appears to have been sent throughout Ontario, though it said it was meant for people within 10 kilometers of the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station. The emergency alert was triggered in error," said Kayla Iafelice, a spokesperson for the premier's office. After years of providing safe, clean, reliable power, the Pickering Nuclear GS will end commercial operations. "Confidence in the accuracy of the system is essential for public safety," Tabuns said in a statement. In 1997, these reactors were placed in voluntary lay-up as part of our predecessor company Ontario Hydro's nuclear improvement program. A retraction alert went out to phones at about 9:11 a.m., approximately 106 minutes after the first alert. Pickering Mayor Dave Ryan said he was in his kitchen getting coffee when he got the alert. After years of providing safe, clean, reliable power, the Pickering Nuclear GS will end commercial operations. The province tried to implement one in 2009, but discontinued the project six years later, "having spent about $7.5 million without it ever going live.". No further action is required.". No meed to evacuate. In the unlikely event of a nuclear accident, OPG would notify local and provincial governments within fifteen minutes, and provincial/regional officials would then notify the public of next-steps in any impacted areas through sirens, automated phone calls and widespread announcements via the National Public Alerting system, radio, TV, social media and the web. While I am relieved that there was no actual emergency, I am upset that an error such as this occurred. The Canadian province of Ontario accidentally sent out an emergency alert regarding an "incident" at a Toronto-area nuclear plant. Decommissioning is now set to start in 2028. Publishing date: Jan 03, 2019 • January 3, 2019 • 2 minute read. Majeed said he understands mistakes can happen and is relieved everything is safe. Pickering Markets closed permanently by COVID-19. The premier's office said the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre sent the original alert. Toronto The power plant is run by Ontario Power Generation and has been in service since 1971. The Pickering plant, however, is not the only link in the province’s nuclear power supply chain where it’s unclear what the plans are in the event of a serious accident. Yet? Questions about a prize won with NEWSTALK 1010? "The previous alert was sent in error. In the event of a nuclear plant accident in Pickering, Niagara County officials do not anticipate a need for immediate evacuation but shelter-in-place orders would certainly be issued. Canadian nuclear safety officials have been dealing with a split-second mistake that shut down a reactor at the Pickering nuclear station east of Toronto. mike.bendixen@newstalk1010.com, Looking to advertise with us? At this event Ontario Clean Air Alliance and Durham Nuclear Awareness addressed a new report by Dr. Ian Fairlie, a … Lessons learned following these incidents will help strengthen nuclear safety and personal preparedness for all Ontarians. In 1994, Pickering A was the site of Canada’s worst accident at a commercial nuclear station. The alert system is tested twice daily to ensure it is ready in the event of an emergency, Jones told CBC News. With files from Natalie Kalata, Irene Thomaidis and The Canadian Press, Audience Relations, CBC P.O. "There was no incident at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station that should have triggered public notification. “Once we had all the facts in place and we confirmed with our partners that we work with, we sent out the message as soon as possible to advise individuals that it was sent out in error,” he said. Location: Pickering, Ontario Operator: Ontario Power Generation Reactor type: CANDU (CANada Deuterium Uranium) Vendor: Atomic Energy of Canada Limited Number of units: 8 reactors Installed capacity: 3,100 MW Status units 1 and 4: Operating Status units 2 and 3: Safe storage Status units 5, 6, 7 and 8: Operating Licence issued: September 1, 2018 Licence expires: August 31, 2028 Start of commercial operation: Between 1971 and 197… ", Watch: President of the University Network of Excellence in Nuclear Engineering on the plant's safety. Pickering is Ontario’s oldest nuclear station and has been operating since 1971. (Darren Calabrese/The Canadian Press) A Fukushima level Nuclear Disaster at Pickering: An assessment of effects considers what would happen if a serious nuclear accident, similar in extent to what took place in Fukushima, Japan in March 2011, were to occur at the Pickering Nuclear Station just east of Toronto. The first four Pickering Nuclear reactors went into service in 1971. A Fukushima-scale nuclear incident at Pickering would mean the loss of 154,000 Toronto-area homes for up to 100 years, says an environmental group. "We're worried, if it really happens, what are we going to do?" At 9:12 a.m., nearly two hours after the first alert, the province sent out another emergency alert to reassure the public that the first alert was an error. Pickering Nuclear station. Pickering Nuclear Generating Station is a Canadian nuclear power station located on the north shore of Lake Ontario in Pickering, Ontario.It is one of the oldest nuclear power stations in the world and Canada's third-largest, producing about 15% of Ontario's power and employing 3,000 workers. "I'm like: 'Oh, my God.' We’ve been advised there was no emergency at Pickering Nuclear this morning and the province-wide alert message was sent in error. Who exactly is responsible for pushing out the alert, Jones said, is part of a larger investigation, which will be carried out by Emergency Management Ontario. For many years, OPG’s Pickering Nuclear Generating Station (GS) has been a proud part of the Pickering community, playing an important role in delivering clean, reliable power for Ontario. WATCH ABOVE: A provincial investigation is underway after an emergency alert was issued “in error” Sunday morning about an “incident” at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station, … Pickering Nuclear Generating Station is a Canadian nuclear power station located on the north shore of Lake Ontario in Pickering, Ontario. Committee members toured the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station, spoke with concerned citizens in the area, heard witnesses in Ottawa, commissioned an independent expert review of the accident risk posed by Pickering A and met with U.S. regulatory officials in Washington and officials of the World Association of Nuclear Operators in Atlanta, Georgia. The Pickering Nuclear Power Generating Station near Toronto on April 17, 2019. Pickering has been saved as your Local News location Close + 5 miles + 10 miles + 20 miles + 30 miles. The Ontario government admitted to erroneously sending out a mass alert telling of an “incident” at Pickering Nuclear Generating Station on Sunday, sending people across the region into a panic. webmaster@newstalk1010.com, To Unsubscribe from Newsletters: Further communication was promised. "There is NO active nuclear situation taking place at Pickering Nuclear Generating Station," the second alert read. Pickering nuclear plant: Incident alert sent to residents' phones in error, authorities say. It's currently slated to be decommissioned in 2024. Be the first to know about the stories that will shape your day -- delivered to your inbox twice every weekday, Newstalk 1010 - Breaking News and Programming Alerts, Stay up-to-date and in-the-know! The plant has experienced several accidents of varying severity throughout its nearly 50 years of operation, including a major incident in 1983 which caused major damage to one of its reactors and cost an estimated $1 billion CAD to fix. Pickering Mayor Dave Ryan said on Sunday he is upset by the alert that was sent in error, and he and Toronto Mayor John Tory are continuing to call for a full investigation. The alert said people near the station do not need to "take any protective actions at this time. Report paints grim picture of Fukushima-scale nuclear accident in Pickering, A Fukushima-scale nuclear incident at Pickering would mean the loss of 154,000 Toronto-area homes for up to 100 years, says an environmental group. It's "nonsense" that the alert was sent in error, she added. The Pickering nuclear power plant has been in service since 1971. At 8:23 a.m., the office of Ontario Premier Doug Ford confirmed in an email to CBC Toronto that the alert was a mistake. Some Ontario residents said the first alert was alarming. Stay current with local journalism dedicated to your community. Learn more at www.emergencymanagementontario.ca Latest More stories News 06:00 AM. The Region is prepared to implement protective measures in a 10-kilometre zone around the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station to protect the public from exposure to a radioactive release. Ontario's solicitor general apologized for an emergency alert sent by mistake early Sunday that warned people in the province of an incident at the Pickering nuclear generating station east of Toronto. The Canadian province of Ontario accidentally sent out an emergency alert regarding an "incident" at a Toronto-area nuclear plant. "The government of Ontario sincerely apologizes for raising public concern and has begun a full investigation to determine how this error happened, and will take the appropriate steps to ensure this doesn't happen again.". 416-384-8000, General policy questions or comments: Mike Bendixen - Program Director There was so… Carlos Osorio / Reuters file. 416-872-1010 | 1-877-518-5151 (toll-free long distance), Send a Text advertising@newstalk1010.com, Questions about a prize won with NEWSTALK 1010? Pickering Nuclear Generating Station emergency alert videos and latest news articles; GlobalNews.ca your source for the latest news on Pickering Nuclear Generating Station emergency alert . Author of the article: Tom Spears. Jerry Hopwood, president of the University Network of Excellence in Nuclear Engineering, says the Pickering plant has a 'very high grade' for safety. Two thirds of these mishaps occurred in the US. 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