A Deep Look at Option 4

Understanding the Staged Approach for Revell

As we look out over our corner of Northwestern Ontario, many of us are wondering what the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) really means when they talk about ‘Option 4.’ This is the specific path they’ve chosen for the proposed Deep Geological Repository at the Revell Site. As part of the ongoing Impact Assessment, we are digging into the details to see how this ‘staged’ plan might change life in Melgund Township, Borups Corners, and Dyment.

The NWMO describes Option 4 as a ‘highly adaptive’ plan. Essentially, they want to build the repository in steps over about 90 years. They argue this allows them to learn as they go, incorporating new technology and ‘social learning’ before the facility is eventually sealed up tight, deep underground, where it won’t need humans to look after it anymore.

The Reality Check

While the plan sounds flexible, we need to look closer at the promises being made versus what we can actually verify right now.

• What is being promised: The NWMO states that radiological exposures to our families and workers will be ‘very small.’
• What we need to verify: Currently, there is no specific data or numerical benchmarks provided to prove what ‘very small’ actually means for our local air and water.
• What is being promised: A ‘fair distribution’ of risks and benefits for our community.
• What we need to verify: While the whole country gets the power, our small section of the North shoulders the long-term risk. We need to see a real plan for protecting our property values and local heritage.

The Path Forward

The technical review of this plan has highlighted some significant gaps that need to be addressed to ensure our safety. The report noted that the NWMO uses the term ‘communities of interest’ without actually defining who that includes; therefore, we are calling for a clear map and definition of exactly which residents and groups will have a seat at the table. Additionally, the current plan lacks specific mention of Indigenous rights or the Duty to Consult. The solution must be a formal framework that aligns with UNDRIP and ensures Traditional Knowledge is a core part of the decision-making process, not just an afterthought.

Furthermore, the report found that the ‘adaptive’ nature of the project could mean we are treated like a live laboratory. To fix this, the NWMO must provide hard baseline data and clear ‘contingency protocols’—basically, a transparent ‘Plan B’—that explains exactly what happens if an engineered barrier fails during that 90-year monitoring period.

Why It Matters Here

For those of us in Dyment and Borups Corners, this isn’t just a technical document; it’s about our backyard. The NWMO mentions the Nuclear Liability and Control Act, noting it could cover costs if we ever needed to evacuate. Hearing ‘evacuation’ mentioned so clinically is a wake-up call. It reminds us that while they talk about ‘social learning,’ we are the ones living with the potential impact on our hunting grounds, our quiet nights, and our well water. We deserve more than ‘confidence-building’ talk; we need verifiable safety facts.

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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