A New Chapter for the Revell Site
As we keep a close eye on the Impact Assessment for the proposed Deep Geological Repository in Northwestern Ontario, a significant update has come from our neighbours. The Nuclear Waste Management Organization recently shared the story of the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation (WLON) and their twelve-year journey of learning about the Revell Site. For those of us in Melgund Township, Borups Corners, and Dyment, understanding how our neighbours reached their decision is a vital part of the puzzle.
What We Are Learning
The WLON story describes a decade-long process of ceremony, technical study, and community reflection. After being ‘involuntarily’ brought into the conversation in 2010, the Nation chose to lead its own learning path. This culminated in a November 2024 referendum where 87.4% of participating members voted to move forward into the regulatory phases. They have also established their own Regulatory Assessment and Approval Process (RAAP) to ensure the project aligns with Anishinaabe values and is ‘proven safe’ before any final construction begins.
The Reality Check
While the story highlights a path of healing and reconnection, there are technical details we are still trying to pin down.
- What is being promised: A project that will only proceed if it is ‘proven safe’ and respects the environment.
- What we need to verify: The specific technical or radiological standards that define ‘proven safe,’ and the total voter turnout for the referendum to understand the full breadth of the community mandate.
The Path Forward
The report noted that while WLON has conducted its own studies, the specific technical parameters and safety thresholds used to reach their decision haven’t been fully shared with the public; therefore, we are calling for a detailed technical annex that outlines these safety criteria. Additionally, there is a lack of clarity on how WLON’s independent regulatory process (the RAAP) will work alongside the federal Impact Assessment. We need a clear roadmap or memorandum of understanding to ensure there is no confusion between these two levels of oversight, which is critical for the long-term safety of everyone living near the Revell Site.
Why It Matters Here
For those of us in Dyment and Borups Corners, this isn’t just a story—it’s about our backyard. We live less than 10 kilometres from the proposed site. While we respect our neighbours’ sovereign journey, we also have questions about how this industrial project affects our shared water, our quiet way of life, and our property values. The Nuclear Waste Management Organization must ensure that the ‘social license’ they are building includes the voices of the folks who will be living right next door to the facility.
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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