Who Is Walking the Woods at the Revell Site?
As residents of Melgund Township, Borups Corners, and Dyment, we know our woods are not just empty space on a map—they are alive. Whether it is the moose we track during the hunt or the evening silence we cherish, the proposed Revell Site for the Deep Geological Repository sits right in the middle of a complex ecosystem here in Northwestern Ontario. We have been reading through the latest technical documents from the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) regarding the Impact Assessment of terrestrial wildlife, and there are some important things we need to discuss as a community.
What We Are Learning
The NWMO has been busy counting tracks and testing water for DNA. Their early reports confirm what many of us already see: our area is home to wolves, cougars, wolverines, and several species of bats that are considered at-risk. They are using modern technology, like environmental DNA (eDNA), to detect animals without seeing them, which helped find salamanders that are hard to spot.
However, the report highlights a concerning trend regarding our moose population. While there is a moderate number of moose in the area, the ratio of calves to cows is low. This suggests that fewer babies are surviving to adulthood, though the report admits they do not yet know exactly why.
The Reality Check
When a project of this size comes to town, we have to look past the summary and check the details. Here is how the claims stack up against the evidence.
- What is being promised: The proponent claims that the studies conducted so far are sufficient to support a risk-informed assessment of potential effects on our wildlife.
- What we need to verify: The data on insects relies on records from the 1980s, and the DNA testing for reptiles (like turtles) was not fully optimized, meaning species could have been missed. We cannot assess risk if we are looking at a partial picture.
- What is being promised: Ticks are mentioned, but the project claims there is no link between the DGR construction and tick distribution.
- What we need to verify: We know that changing forest edges can increase tick habitats. Simply dismissing this connection without a proper pathway analysis ignores a major health concern for our families and pets.
The Path Forward
To ensure our wildlife—and our lifestyle—are protected, we need to close the gaps between what is known and what is assumed.
The Gap: The report identifies a low calf-to-cow ratio in the local moose population but does not identify the cause. If we add the noise, dust, and traffic of a mega-project to a struggling population, we risk a collapse.
The Solution: We are calling for a multi-year population health study specifically for moose. We need to understand the drivers of this decline before construction begins to ensure the project doesn’t push the population over the edge.
The Gap: The assessment relies on 40-year-old data for invertebrates and incomplete surveys for reptiles.
The Solution: The proponent must update these field surveys. We cannot make decisions for the next century based on data from the last century. We need optimized eDNA testing to ensure no species are overlooked.
Why It Matters Here
This isn’t just about data points; it is about our way of life. For many in Melgund Township and Dyment, the moose hunt is a tradition that fills freezers and brings families together. If the herd is already fragile, the stress of the Revell Site construction could have lasting impacts on our harvest. Furthermore, the dismissal of tick risks concerns anyone who walks these woods. We need to know that the changes to the landscape won’t make our backyards less safe for our children and dogs.
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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