Nuclear Security Regulations (SOR/2025-219)

Inner Area

Marginal note:Enclosed structure

• 67 (1) An inner area must be within an enclosed structure that is

  • (a) located at least 5 m away from every point in the physical barrier that encloses the protected area; and

  • (b) designed and constructed to prevent a person who has gained unauthorized access to Category I nuclear material from removing the material from the inner area before an effective intervention can be made.

• Marginal note:Means of entry or exit

  (2) Each gate, door, window or other means of entry or exit in the enclosed structure must be kept closed and securely locked with a device that can only be unlocked from outside the structure by two persons who are authorized under subsection 52(1), with each of them simultaneously using a means of access control.

Marginal note:Nuclear security measures

• 68 (1) An inner area must be

  • (a) protected by the following nuclear security measures that are in addition to those used to protect the protected area:

    • (i) two or more independent nuclear security measures that detect intrusion into, and unauthorized movement within and out of, the inner area,

    • (ii) a nuclear security measure that detects any tampering or attempted tampering that may cause any of the measures referred to in subparagraph (i) or (v) to malfunction or cease to function,

    • (iii) a nuclear security measure that, when an event referred to in subparagraph (i) or (ii) is detected, triggers the following continuous and independent alarms:

      • (A) an alarm that is audible and visible in the central alarm station and that can only be shut off from inside the station by a central alarm station operator, and

      • (B) an alarm that is audible and visible in at least one other attended place outside the inner area and that can only be shut off from that place by a person who is authorized under subsection 52(1),

    • (iv) two or more independent nuclear security measures that facilitate an immediate assessment of the cause of an alarm, and

    • (v) a nuclear security measure that detects the unauthorized removal of Category I nuclear material, Category II nuclear material or Category III nuclear material from the inner area; or

  • (b) kept under the direct visual surveillance of a nuclear security officer who is equipped with

    • (i) a device that enables communication with the central alarm station, and

    • (ii) a device that can trigger a continuous alarm that is audible and visible in the central alarm station and in at least one other attended place outside of the inner area and that can only be shut off from inside the station by a central alarm station operator or from that other place by a person who is authorized under subsection 52(1).

• Marginal note:Access control

  (2) An inner area must be protected by nuclear security measures that

  • (a) control access to the area;

  • (b) record each attempt to access the area and verify the identity of each authorized person who enters the area; and

  • (c) are monitored to ensure that any tampering or attempted tampering with the measures is detected and assessed.

Access Control

Prohibitions

Marginal note:Unauthorized persons

• 69 (1) A licensee must not permit an unauthorized person to enter or remain in

  • (a) a protected area;

  • (b) a vital area; or

  • (c) an inner area.

• Marginal note:Access without required escort

  (2) The licensee must not permit a person who has been granted an authorization to enter or remain in a protected area, vital area or inner area with escort to enter or remain in that area unless they are escorted in accordance with that authorization.

Marginal note:Reporting unauthorized person

70 If a person observes anyone in a protected area, vital area or inner area whom they believe on reasonable grounds is not authorized to be in that area, they must immediately report that fact to a nuclear security officer.

Marginal note:Weapons, explosive substances and threat items

71 A licensee must ensure that

• (a) weapons are not taken into a protected area or inner area unless they are under the control of a peace officer, nuclear security officer or a member of an on-site nuclear response force or off-site response force who requires access to the area for the purpose of carrying out their duties;

• (b) explosive substances are not taken into a protected area or inner area unless

  • (i) they are under the control of a peace officer, nuclear security officer or a member of an on-site nuclear response force or off-site response force who requires access to the area for the purpose of carrying out their duties; or

  • (ii) they are necessary for an operational requirement and are under the control of a person who is authorized by the licensee and escorted at all times by a nuclear security officer; and

• (c) threat items are not taken into a protected area or inner area unless they are necessary for an operational requirement.

Marginal note:Removal of nuclear material

• 72 (1) A licensee must ensure that Category I nuclear material, Category II nuclear material or Category III nuclear material is not removed from a protected area or inner area except in accordance with a licence.

• Marginal note:Vital area

  (2) A licensee must ensure that Category I nuclear material, Category II nuclear material or Category III nuclear material is not removed from a vital area without its authorization.

Marginal note:Prohibited activities

73 A person must not

• (a) take any weapons into a protected area or inner area unless they are under the control of a peace officer, nuclear security officer or a member of an on-site nuclear response force or an off-site response force who requires access to the area for the purpose of carrying out their duties;

• (b) take any explosive substance into a protected area or an inner area unless

  • (i) they are a peace officer, nuclear security officer or a member of an on-site nuclear response force or off-site response force who requires access to the area for the purpose of carrying out their duties, or

  • (ii) they are authorized to do so by the licensee and escorted at all times by a nuclear security officer and the explosive substance is necessary for an operational requirement;

• (c) take threat items into a protected area or inner area unless they are necessary for an operational requirement; or

• (d) remove any Category I nuclear material, Category II nuclear material or Category III nuclear material from a protected area, vital area or inner area without the authorization of the licensee.

Identity Verification

Marginal note:Protected area

74 Before a person who has been granted an authorization under section 49 enters a protected area, the licensee must verify their identity by two separate personnel identity verification systems, one of which must use biometric information.

Marginal note:Vital area

75 The licensee must verify and record the identity of every person who enters a vital area.

Vehicle Access

Marginal note:Land vehicles

76 A licensee must not permit a land vehicle to enter a protected area, vital area or inner area unless there is an operational requirement for it to be in that area.

Marginal note:Vehicle access

• 77 (1) A licensee must ensure that land vehicles only enter into or exit from a protected area through a vehicle portal or, if necessary for an operational requirement, through an opening with two moveable barriers.

• Marginal note:Both barriers not to be open

  (2) Both moveable barriers of a vehicle portal or opening must not be open at the same time except in the event of an emergency or if it is necessary to do so for an operational requirement.

• Marginal note:When both barriers are open

  (3) When both moveable barriers of a vehicle portal or opening are open at the same time, the vehicle portal or opening, as the case may be, must be

  • (a) attended by at least one nuclear security officer who is equipped with a land vehicle; or

  • (b) protected by other nuclear security measures that prevent unauthorized access to the protected area.

Inner Area Access

Marginal note:Means of entry or exit

• 78 (1) A licensee must not permit a gate, door, window or other means of entry or exit in the structure that encloses an inner area to be unlocked, opened or kept open except for the period of time necessary to allow for the passage of persons or items into or out of the area or for the completion of an operational requirement.

• Marginal note:Direct visual surveillance

  (2) While the means of entry or exit is unlocked, opened or kept open, the licensee must ensure that it is under the direct visual surveillance of a nuclear security officer who is dedicated exclusively to that task.

• Marginal note:Unlocked from outside

  (3) A licensee must not permit a gate, door, window or other means of entry or exit in the structure that encloses an inner area to be unlocked from the outside unless it is unlocked by two persons who are authorized to enter the inner area, at least one of whom is a nuclear security officer.

Marginal note:Person must be accompanied

79 A person who is authorized under subsection 52(1) to enter and remain in an inner area must not enter the area unless they are accompanied by another person who is authorized to do so under that subsection and they remain in visual contact with that other person.

Searches

Marginal note:Signage for high-security site

• 80 (1) A licensee must post, in close proximity to the location at which the search of persons is conducted, signage that is visible to any person who is about to enter a high-security site that states, in English and French, that all persons entering and exiting the site and everything in their possession, including any land vehicle, are

  • (a) on entering the site, subject to search by a nuclear security officer — using any necessary screening and detection devices — for weapons, explosive substances, threat items and, in the case of a land vehicle, unauthorized persons; and

  • (b) on exiting the site, subject to search by a nuclear security officer for Category I nuclear material, Category II nuclear material and Category III nuclear material using devices capable of detecting that material.

• Marginal note:Signage for protected area and inner area

  (2) A licensee must post, in close proximity to the location at which the search of persons is conducted, signage that is visible to any person who is about to enter a protected area or inner area that states, in English and French, that all persons entering and exiting the area and everything in their possession, including any land vehicle, are

  • (a) on entering the area, subject to search by a nuclear security officer — using any necessary screening and detection devices — for weapons, explosive substances, threat items and, in the case of a land vehicle, unauthorized persons; and

  • (b) on exiting the area, subject to search by a nuclear security officer for Category I nuclear material, Category II nuclear material and Category III nuclear material using devices capable of detecting that material.

Marginal note:Search on entry

• 81 (1) Subject to subsection (3), a licensee must not permit any person to enter a protected area or inner area unless the person and everything in their possession, including any land vehicle, are searched by a nuclear security officer — using any necessary detection and screening devices — for weapons, explosive substances, threat items and, in the case of a land vehicle, unauthorized persons.

• Marginal note:Search on exit

  (2) Subject to subsection (3), a licensee must ensure that all persons exiting a protected area or inner area and everything in their possession, including any land vehicle, are searched by a nuclear safety officer for Category I nuclear material, Category II nuclear material and Category III nuclear material using devices capable of detecting that material.

• Marginal note:Exceptions

  (3) The following persons are not subject to a search under subsection (1) or (2):

  • (a) a nuclear security officer whose identity has been verified in accordance with section 74 and who requires access to or egress from the protected area or inner area for the purposes of carrying out their duties; and

  • (b) a person who, if they were granted an authorization to enter the area with an escort, is or was escorted in accordance with that authorization and who establishes to a nuclear security officer — by presentation of identification or other evidence — that they are a member of the off-site response force, a peace officer or a member of an emergency service who requires access to or egress from the protected area or inner area for the purpose of carrying out their duties.

• Marginal note:Search after entry

  (4) If the licensee has reasonable grounds to suspect that a person who is in a protected area or inner area has any of the following items in their possession, the licensee must not permit the person to remain in that area unless the person and everything in their possession, including a land vehicle, is searched for those items:

  • (a) weapons or explosive substances that are not under the control of a nuclear security officer or a member of an on-site nuclear response force or off-site response force;

  • (b) threat items that are not necessary for an operational requirement; or

  • (c) Category I nuclear material, Category II nuclear material or Category III nuclear material that is being removed from the area without the authorization of the licensee.

• Marginal note:Conduct of search

  (5) A search of a person that is conducted under this section must be

  • (a) a non-intrusive search carried out by means of a hand-held scanner, a walk-through scanner equipped with a metal detector or any similar device; or

  • (b) a frisk search carried out by a person of the same sex as the person being searched and extending from head to foot, down the front and rear of the body, around the legs and inside clothing folds, pockets and footwear, if a nuclear security officer determines that it is necessary in order to maintain security.

• Marginal note:Search of land vehicle

  (6) If the high-security site is equipped with a vehicle portal, a search of a land vehicle that is conducted under this section must take place in the vehicle portal.

Marginal note:Prohibition

82 A person who refuses to submit to a search to which they are subject under section 81 must not enter a protected area or inner area.

PART 3Other Nuclear Facilities

Definition

Marginal note:Definition of licensee

83 In this Part, licensee means a person who, in relation to a nuclear facility referred to in paragraph 3(c) of these Regulations, is licensed under the Act to

• (a) carry out an activity described in any of paragraphs 26(a), (e) or (f) of the Act; or

• (b) produce, refine, convert, enrich, process, reprocess, manage, store or dispose of a nuclear substance.

Application

Marginal note:Application of Part

84 This Part applies in respect of the nuclear facilities referred to in paragraph 3(c).

Facility-access Security Clearance

Marginal note:Conditions

• 85 (1) A licensee may grant a facility-access security clearance to a person if

  • (a) it determines, after verifying the information and documents referred to in subsection (2), that the person does not pose an unreasonable risk to the health or safety of persons or the security of the nuclear facility; or

  • (b) it verifies that the person holds

    • (i) a valid facility-access security clearance, a high-security site access clearance or an enhanced security clearance granted by another licensee, or

    • (ii) a valid reliability status or a secret or top secret clearance granted under the Directive on Security Screening.

• Marginal note:Verification of information and documents

  (2) For the purpose of paragraph (1)(a), the licensee must verify the following information and documents in respect of the person who is seeking the facility-access security clearance:

  • (a) two pieces of valid government-issued identification, one of which must be photo identification;

  • (b) a record that sets out the results of any criminal record check, such as a check that is fingerprint-based; and

  • (c) their personal history for the last five years, composed of their educational history, professional qualifications, employment history and character references, but if their history cannot be established for that period, information relating to their trustworthiness, including, if available, the results of a criminal record check from each country in which they have resided for one or more years in the last five years.

• Marginal note:Period and conditions

  (3) A facility-access security clearance may be granted for a term not exceeding 10 years and must be subject to any terms and conditions that are necessary to minimize the risk to the security of the nuclear facility.

• Marginal note:Record and notice

  (4) A licensee that grants a facility-access security clearance under paragraph (1)(b) must keep a record indicating how it verified that the person holds a status or clearance, as the case may be, referred to in that paragraph.