A Century of Watching and Waiting
As we look at the future of Northwestern Ontario, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) has shared plans for what happens at the Revell Site once the used fuel is tucked away. This phase, known as decommissioning and closure, isn’t just a quick cleanup—it is a process that could span over 130 years, affecting Melgund Township, Borups Corners, and Dyment for generations to come.
What We Are Learning
The Impact Assessment documents describe a two-step exit strategy. First, there is an “extended monitoring” phase lasting about 100 years. During this time, the waste is underground, but the tunnels stay open so sensors can check on rock temperature and water quality. After that, a 30-year decommissioning phase begins, where the Deep Geological Repository is finally sealed with bentonite clay and concrete, surface buildings are torn down, and the land is reclaimed.
The Reality Check
What is being promised: The NWMO says they will monitor the site’s safety and only move to final closure when “society’s desire” and regulatory data say it is time.
What we need to verify: The term “society’s desire” is quite vague. We need to know exactly how our local voices will be weighed against national interests 100 years from now. Additionally, the plan to “ream” out concrete liners from the shafts will create a lot of new waste and noise that hasn’t been fully detailed yet.
The Path Forward
The report noted a lack of clear criteria for how future generations will give their consent to close the site; therefore, we are calling for a formal “intergenerational consent” framework. This would ensure that the people living in Melgund Township in the year 2125 have a legally recognized vote in the final closure. Furthermore, the report mentioned that the destination for certain intermediate-level wastes is still unknown; therefore, we are asking for a specific management plan for these materials before any work begins to prevent unexpected transport through our local roads.
Why It Matters Here
For those of us in Borups Corners and Dyment, this means the Revell Site remains an active industrial spot for over a century. The plan includes installing “permanent markers” to warn people thousands of years from now about the waste. It makes you wonder how our quiet woods, hunting spots, and fishing holes will be viewed by our great-grandchildren if the land is permanently marked as a hazard zone. We need to ensure the “temporary” industrial footprint doesn’t leave a permanent scar on our local way of life.
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.
About the Author
