Emergency alert about ‘incident’ at Ontario nuclear plant sent in error
Posted January 12, 2020 7:39 am.
Last Updated January 12, 2020 7:50 am.
PICKERING (NEWS 1130) — An emergency alert warning of an ‘incident’ at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station in Ontario was apparently sent in error.
A statement from the Premier’s office says “human error” during a training exercise is the blame for the province-wide alert sent Sunday morning.
The alert, sent around 7:23 a.m., said an incident had been reported at the power plant but that “there has been NO abnormal release of radioactivity from the station.”
“People near the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station DO NOT need to take any protective actions at this time,” the alert said.
Just after 8 a.m., Ontario Power Generation issued a tweet saying the alert “was sent in error.”
“There is no danger to the public or environment.”
Important update: the alert regarding #Pickering Nuclear was sent in error. There is no danger to the public or environment.
— Ontario Power Gen (@opg) January 12, 2020
Durham Regional Police confirmed to CityNews that the alert was sent in error, that there was no incident that they were aware of in the area but could not provide any further details as to what may have triggered the alert in the first place.
DRPS also received the Emergency Alert from Province of Ontario and we made direct contact with Durham Emergency Management to clarify the message. We are working with DEMO and @opg to receive further clarification and an update will be coming shortly.
— Durham Regional Police (@DRPS) January 12, 2020
A provincial alert admitting that the previous alert was an error was finally sent around 9:11 a.m. but it gave no further details as to why the first alert was sent.
Premier Doug Ford’s office said it was working to figure out what happened and that more details would be released later today.
Pickering Mayor Dave Ryan was among many calling for a full investigation into the incident.
Like many of you, I was very troubled to have received that emergency alert this morning. While I am relieved that there was no actual emergency, I am upset that an error such as this occurred. I have spoken to the Province, and am demanding that a full investigation take place.
— Mayor Dave Ryan (@mayordaveryan) January 12, 2020
Toronto mayor John Tory joined Ryan in calling for a full investigation, saying there are “far too many unanswered questions.”
“I know many @CityOfToronto residents – especially those who live near Pickering – were unnecessarily alarmed by this alert.”
Pickering is Ontario’s oldest nuclear station and has been operating since 1971. It had been scheduled to be decommissioned this year, but the former Liberal government – and the current Ford government – committed to keeping it open until 2024. Decommissioning is now set to start in 2028.
It has experienced several earlier incidents. In 2011, a pump seal failure caused the spill of more than 19,200 gallons (73,000 litres) of demineralized water into Lake Ontario, though with no significant risks to public health, according to local authorities.
In 1994, the plant automatically shut down after a faulty valve caused 132 tons of heavy water to spill. It was the first time a Canadian nuclear reactor had to use the emergency core cooling system to prevent fuel overheating,
OPG operates six CANDU reactors, generates 14 per cent of Ontario’s electricity, and is responsible for 4,500 jobs across the region.
Files from The Canadian Press were used in this report
