Understanding How the NWMO Views Our Community
Hello neighbours. As we look at the plans for the Revell Site right next door, we need to talk about how the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) sees us. For those of us in Melgund Township, specifically folks in Dyment and Borups Corners, the proposed Deep Geological Repository isn’t just a concept—it’s a potential neighbor. The latest Impact Assessment documents try to describe who we are, but do they get the full picture of life in Northwestern Ontario?
What We Are Learning
The NWMO describes our area as a quiet, nature-loving community where neighbours support one another. They acknowledge that the Local Services Board (LSB) of Melgund runs on volunteer power to provide recreation and culture. They highlight our community spirit, noting events like game nights and Canada Day. However, they also point out that we face challenges: specifically, a lack of funding, limited services, and a shortage of space for community gatherings.
The Reality Check
What is being promised: The report paints a picture of a tight-knit community that struggles with funding and gathering spaces, implying the project might help fill those gaps through investment.
What we need to verify: The report contradicts itself. It claims we have a “lack of gathering spaces” while simultaneously listing the successful events we hold at our local hall. Which is it? Furthermore, stating we have a “lack of funding” without showing the actual economic numbers makes our community look vulnerable. We need to verify if this description is accurate or if it is being used to suggest we are desperate for the economic “solution” the DGR claims to offer.
The Path Forward
The Gap: The assessment relies heavily on the fact that we run on volunteers. It fails to ask a critical question: what happens if a massive industrial project brings in hundreds of new people or administrative burdens? Our volunteers are already working hard; can they handle the extra pressure?
The Solution: We are calling for a “Volunteer Capacity Assessment.” The NWMO needs to prove that their project won’t burn out the very people who keep Dyment and Borups Corners running. Additionally, we need a proper infrastructure audit to define exactly what “gathering spaces” are supposedly missing, rather than relying on vague observations.
Why It Matters Here
This isn’t just paperwork. If the Revell Site moves forward, the “quiet community” described in the report changes. The noise, traffic, and industrial activity could disrupt the peace we value at Melgund Lake. If our volunteer board is overwhelmed by new demands, the social fabric that binds us together could fray. We need to ensure our way of life isn’t treated merely as a backdrop for a nuclear dump.
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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