OPG receives gold certification for biodiversity work at Bruce Nuclear site

Ontario Power Generation (OPG) has been awarded gold certification by the Wildlife Habitat Council, for biodiversity programs at the Western Waste Management Facility (WWMF).
 
“We are proud of this achievement, reflecting OPG’s commitment to biodiversity at the WWMF,” says Jason Van Wart, vice-president of nuclear waste management. “It’s consistent with OPG’s history of protecting the environment at its operations throughout the province.”
 
“Congratulations to OPG on this achievement,” says Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker, associate energy minister for Ontario. “Your good work to restore and conserve Ontario’s wildlife habitats is valuable to the environment and appreciated by the people who live here.”
 
Gold certification recognizes years of work on environmental, conservation and community programs at the WMMF, within the OPG-owned Bruce Nuclear site, located in the Municipality of Kincardine.

Biodiversity programs at the site include:
 

• Habitat restoration for turtles and birds, such as ducks and meadow larks.
• Helping to manage invasive species.
• Providing awareness and community engagement programs to residents in Bruce County, often in partnership with local environmental and conservation groups.

 
“At OPG, protecting and nurturing Ontario’s biodiversity is a fundamental part of our operations,” says Aaron Del Pino, vice-president of environment, health and safety. “We greatly appreciate the wildlife council’s recognition for our commitment to protecting natural habitats.”
 
A score by the wildlife council can fall into three categories: certified, certified silver or certified gold. The gold certification is a three-year designation, after which the facility may reapply. Other OPG operations that have received gold certification are OPG’s Niagara operations, the Darlington and Pickering nuclear generating stations, the Eastern operations hydroelectric group and the dual-fuelled Lennox generating station, South Central operations and the Wesleyville site.
 
“The WWMF and Bruce complex met the strict requirements of our conservation certification,” says Margaret O’Gorman, president of the wildlife council. “Companies like OPG that achieve gold certification, are environmental leaders, voluntarily managing their lands to support sustainable ecosystems and the communities that surround them.”
 
The wildlife council certifies conservation programs on corporate lands around the world, and promotes environmental management through various partnerships and education. All applications for certification are reviewed and scored on an individual basis by a third party against project-specific criteria. For more information, visit www.wildlifehc.org.