A Century of Change at the Revell Site
Hello neighbors! As we keep an eye on the Impact Assessment for the proposed Deep Geological Repository in Northwestern Ontario, some big numbers are coming out of the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO). We are looking at a project that could shape Melgund Township for the next 160 years.
The NWMO plans to move about 5.9 million used nuclear fuel bundles to the Revell Site. They expect to process these over 50 years, but the whole project—from building to monitoring—will last over a century and a half. They are talking about a Packaging Plant where fuel is sealed into copper containers and tucked away deep underground. They estimate about two trucks arriving every day, which sounds small, but it adds up to a lot of activity in our quiet corner of the woods.
The Reality Check
What is being promised: A strict limit of 5.9 million bundles and a highly automated, safe process.
What we need to verify: The NWMO mentions ‘alternative designs’ and ‘optimizing’ the process. We need to know if these changes could happen without a new Impact Assessment. Also, while they focus on the fuel, what happens to the contaminated tools and leftover copper scraps?
The Path Forward
The report noted that there are no clear limits on how long waste can sit in ‘temporary’ surface storage if things get delayed; therefore, we are calling for strict time limits and volume caps to ensure our backyard does not become a long-term parking lot for waste. We also need a full accounting of ‘secondary waste’—the extra trash created by the packaging process—so we are not surprised by the total environmental footprint.
Why It Matters Here
For those of us in Borups Corners and Dyment, this is not just a technical project; it is a total shift. We are talking about turning a quiet area into a heavy industrial zone with a concrete plant and a copper coating facility. This could affect the silence we enjoy, our local hunting spots, and the water we all rely on. A 160-year timeline means this is not just our issue—it is our grandkids’ issue, too.
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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