The Port Hope Area Initiative (PHAI) is a community initiated environmental remediation project that began in 2001. Its goal is the cleanup and safe long-term management of historic low-level radioactive waste in the Port Hope area. The waste, which is no longer produced, resulted from radium and uranium refining during the 1930s to 1980s. The federal government, through the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management Office (LLRWMO), is responsible for its long-term safe management throughout the project as well as into the future.

One Initiative, Two Projects

The Port Hope Area Initiative represents a $260 million commitment by the Government of Canada to respond to the community-recommended solutions to this long-standing environmental problem. A legal agreement completed in March 2001 between the Government of Canada and the Municipalities defines the responsibilities throughout the process. The Municipalities are Clarington, Hope Township and the Town of Port Hope. The Town of Port Hope and the Township of Hope amalgamated to form the Municipality of Port Hope in 2001. The LLRWMO has been designated as proponent for two remediation projects under the Initiative:  

1. The Port Hope Long-Term Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management Project	2. The Port Granby Long-Term Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management Project

Each project is subject to an environmental assessment and licensing phase expected to last about five years. Cleanup, implementation and construction of the proposed facilities will last about five to seven years followed by long-term monitoring and surveillance.