Understanding the Ground and Sky at Revell
Hello neighbours! As we keep a close eye on the Impact Assessment for the proposed Deep Geological Repository in Northwestern Ontario, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) has released new details about the weather and geology at the Revell Site. For those of us in Melgund Township, Borups Corners, and Dyment, these numbers are not just stats—they are the foundation for how safe this project might be.
What We Are Learning
The NWMO has been running a weather station at the site since 2021 to see how it compares to the airport in Dryden. They are also looking deep underground, having drilled six massive holes—each about a kilometer deep—to study the bedrock. They describe the area as a ‘craton,’ a very stable part of the Earth’s crust that has stayed quiet for nearly a billion years. They have also set up nine ‘microseismic’ stations to listen for tiny movements in the earth that we cannot even feel.
The Reality Check
What is being promised: The NWMO suggests they have an extensive understanding of the site and that the local weather is similar to regional trends, making the site suitable for long-term storage.
What we need to verify: The data has some holes. The on-site weather station lost power several times, and more importantly, it failed to accurately measure our winter snow. In December 2023, the station recorded zero precipitation even though over two feet of snow fell. Additionally, while the rocks are ancient, the high-tech monitoring of earthquakes has only been happening for about three years.
The Path Forward
The report noted that the current sensors significantly underestimated winter precipitation; therefore, we are calling for the installation of high-precision, heated all-weather sensors to ensure the water management plans are based on reality, not low-ball estimates. Furthermore, the report relies on a very short window of seismic data; therefore, we are asking for a detailed plan that connects these recent readings with ancient geological history to prove the site will truly remain stable for a million years.
Why It Matters Here
In Northwestern Ontario, we live by the seasons. If the Nuclear Waste Management Organization uses flawed snow data, the drainage systems for the Deep Geological Repository might not be big enough to handle a heavy spring melt. This could impact the water quality in our local watersheds where we fish and hunt. We need to be sure the ‘science’ matches the actual conditions we see out our front doors every winter.
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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