Understanding How the Revell Site Project Affects Our Backyard
As we settle into another season here in Northwestern Ontario, many of us in Melgund Township, Borups Corners, and Dyment are asking practical questions about the proposed Revell Site. Specifically, if the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) builds a Deep Geological Repository here, what happens to the trails we ride and the woods we hunt? The latest Impact Assessment documents give us a glimpse into their perspective on our land use, and it is vital we look closely at the details.
What We Are Learning
The NWMO acknowledges that the 342-hectare project site sits on Crown land currently used for forestry, trapping (specifically lines DR024 and IG033), and bait harvesting. They recognize that our snowmobile clubs (District 17) and ATV riders use "unofficial" forestry roads to get around. However, their report concludes that land use on the site is "minimal" and generally won’t interfere with community life. They also state that a "desktop" review of history shows no archaeological sites, so they do not currently plan to dig deeper for non-Indigenous historical artifacts.
The Reality Check
What is being promised: The NWMO claims that current "desktop" studies are sufficient to confirm there are no historical sites on the property. They also characterize the displacement of trappers and recreational users as a minor issue due to the "minimal" activity levels.
What we need to verify: A computer search isn’t the same as walking the land. Without physical inspections (Stage 2 assessments), we cannot be sure what history lies beneath the soil. Furthermore, labeling our trapping and riding as "minimal" feels subjective. We need to verify these claims with actual numbers—how many families rely on that bait harvest, and how often are those trails actually ridden?
The Path Forward
The report explicitly states the NWMO has "no planned work" to collect more data on non-Indigenous land use. The Gap: This is a problem because "unofficial" trails are the lifeblood of our local recreation, and desktop studies miss unrecorded history. Stopping data collection now risks basing the final plan on incomplete information.
The Solution: We are calling for the NWMO to reverse this decision. They need to conduct physical archaeological surveys (boots on the ground, not just maps) to ensure no pioneer or logging history is destroyed. We also need a formal "Access Management Plan" developed with our snowmobile clubs and trappers. If a trail is blocked, a plan must be in place to reroute it, ensuring our access to the broader wilderness remains intact.
Why It Matters Here
For families in Melgund Township and Dyment, the woods aren’t just empty space; they are our grocery store and our gym. If you hold a trapping license or run an outfitting business, "minimal" interference sounds very different when it is your livelihood on the line. Relying on old data risks erasing unrecorded local history and disrupting the quiet enjoyment of the backcountry that keeps us living here.
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.
The Melgund Integrated Nuclear Impact Assessment Project
The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) is reviewing the Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s (NWMO) proposed Deep Geological Repository (DGR) at the Revell Site, located near Ignace and Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation in Northwestern Ontario.
This major nuclear infrastructure project is undergoing a joint federal review by the IAAC and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) to evaluate environmental, health, social, and Indigenous rights impacts over its projected 160-year lifecycle.
Public Feedback Open: Comments on the Initial Project Description are accepted until February 4, 2026. Submissions help shape the formal impact assessment guidelines.
This short article and summary is based on an initial analysis of a proponent’s initial project description. It does not represent, any community the NWMO or the Government of Canada. Learn more at the Melgund Integrated Nuclear Impact Assessment Project project page.
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