Building the DGR: What to Expect

Heavy Industry Coming to Our Backyard?

In our latest look at the proposed Deep Geological Repository (DGR) in Northwestern Ontario, we are diving into the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) plans for the construction phase. For those of us in Melgund Township, Borups Corners, and Dyment, the Impact Assessment documents describe a transformation of the Revell Site from a quiet forest into a major industrial hub. We’re talking about a Used Fuel Packaging Plant, three massive shafts reaching 800 meters deep, and a network of new roads and rail lines.

What We Are Learning

The NWMO plans to build the repository using a ‘drill and blast’ method to create underground rooms for nuclear waste. On the surface, they’ll be busy too—building a concrete plant, a water treatment system, and facilities to package used fuel. They are also ‘considering’ a rail spur to bring the waste in, though that isn’t a promise yet. The goal is to have everything ready to receive waste, with ‘hot cells’ designed to keep radiation contained while robots repackage the fuel for its final resting place deep in the rock.

The Reality Check

What is being promised: The NWMO says water from the site will be treated using the ‘best available and economically achievable’ technology before being released back into the environment.
What we need to verify: The phrase ‘economically achievable’ is a bit of a red flag. Does it mean they’ll choose the cheapest option over the safest? Also, they haven’t picked the exact spots where this water will be released, only giving a broad 2 to 10 km radius around the site.

What is being promised: A rail spur might be built to handle the heavy transport of materials and fuel.
What we need to verify: Without a firm commitment to rail, we could be looking at a massive increase in heavy truck traffic on our local roads, which weren’t built for this kind of industrial load.

The Path Forward

The report noted that water discharge locations are currently vague, which makes it impossible to know how our local fish and plants will be affected; therefore, we are calling for specific coordinates for discharge points and strict limits on salt and nitrogen levels. Additionally, the report mentioned that ‘drill and blast’ is the default excavation method; therefore, we are asking for a formal study to see if mechanical digging—which is much quieter and causes less vibration—could be used instead to protect the peace and quiet of our township.

Why It Matters Here

For those of us who chose Melgund Township for the silence, the hunting, and the fishing, this construction phase is a big deal. We’re looking at years of blasting noise, dust, and heavy equipment moving through our backyard. The ‘stigma’ of becoming a multi-purpose nuclear waste hub—including storage for low and intermediate-level waste—could also change how people see our community and affect our property values for generations.

Have Your Say

This affects our future. Submit your feedback on this specific issue via our Engage page to ensure the Impact Assessment Agency hears from our community.

About the Author

Melgund Integrated Nuclear Impact Assessment Project

Author

Melgund Integrated Nuclear Impact Assessment (MINIA) is a community-led research and analysis initiative focused on understanding the full social, cultural, environmental, and economic implications of nuclear-related projects in Northwestern Ontario. Grounded in local knowledge and lived experience, the project brings together researchers, artists, youth, Elders, and community partners to examine how large-scale infrastructure—such as the proposed Deep Geological Repository—intersects with everyday life, land-based relationships, and long-term regional sustainability.

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