Digging Into the Greenery at the Revell Site
Hello neighbours. Today, we are turning our attention to the landscape right outside our windows here in Northwestern Ontario. Specifically, we are looking at the greenery, the swamps, and the shorelines that make up the proposed Revell Site. For those of us living in Melgund Township, Borups Corners, and Dyment, these aren’t just lines on a map—they are the places we hike, hunt, and watch the seasons change. The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) has released their latest findings on how the Deep Geological Repository (DGR) will affect vegetation and wetlands, and there are a few things we need to talk about.
The Impact Assessment documents acknowledge that building this facility will require clearing land, blasting rock, and altering drainage. But the big question is: how much of our local backyard are we losing, and is the trade-off worth it?
What We Are Learning
According to the NWMO’s report, the project site is mostly upland conifer forest, but about 17% of the area consists of wetlands—specifically swamps and fens. They have also identified stands of Wild Rice near Mennin Lake and within the site itself, along with traditional medicinal plants like Balsam Fir and Balsam Poplar.
The report admits that site clearing is certain to happen. However, they classify the risk as “low.” Their reasoning? They argue that because wetlands are “abundant” across Northern Ontario, losing the ones at the Revell Site doesn’t constitute a critical loss. They also promise to use standard industry practices to minimize damage and avoid sensitive plants “to the extent practicable.”
The Reality Check
When we look closer at these promises, we see a difference between what is being claimed and what we, as residents, need to verify.
- The Claim: The loss of wetlands at the site is “negligible” because there are so many other wetlands in the region.
- The Evidence: This is a quantity-over-quality argument. Just because there is a swamp 100km away doesn’t mean it performs the same water filtration or habitat function as the one being removed here in Melgund Township. We need to verify the specific ecological job these local wetlands are doing before they are filled in.
- The Claim: Culturally significant plants like Wild Rice and Black Ash will be avoided “to the extent practicable.”
- The Evidence: “Practicable” is a vague word. It often means “unless it is too expensive or difficult to engineer around.” Without a strict definition, this leaves the door open for these plants to be removed if they get in the way of construction.
The Path Forward
We want to ensure safety and accountability. Here is where we see a gap in the plan, and what we believe is the solution.
The Gap: The current assessment relies heavily on “regional abundance” to justify local destruction. It suggests that because nature is everywhere up here, we can afford to lose a chunk of it without consequence.
The Solution: We are calling for a “No Net Loss” strategy specific to the Revell Site. If a wetland is destroyed for the DGR, the NWMO should commit to restoring or creating an equivalent wetland nearby, not just pointing to one that already exists elsewhere. Furthermore, regarding medicinal plants and Wild Rice, we need a formal agreement on what “practicable” means. We recommend a co-mapping initiative with local Indigenous knowledge holders to identify these areas precisely and create a binding plan for their protection or safe relocation.
Why It Matters Here
For families in Borups Corners and Dyment, this is about more than just biology. If the local hydrology changes because a fen was drained, it changes how water moves through our properties. If the Wild Rice at Mennin Lake is disturbed by runoff or dust, it impacts a harvest that has happened for generations. The “low risk” label might work on a provincial spreadsheet, but on the ground, the permanent loss of these pockets of nature changes the character of our home.
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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