Looking Beyond the Ignace Border
In Northwestern Ontario, we know that being a good neighbor means looking out for one another. As the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) moves forward with the Impact Assessment for the Revell Site, much of the conversation has focused on the Township of Ignace. However, for those of us in Melgund Township, Borups Corners, and Dyment, the Deep Geological Repository isn’t just a project in a nearby town—it is something happening right in our backyard.
What We Are Learning
The latest documents from the proponent highlight a ‘shared commitment’ with Ignace to ensure the project brings growth, jobs, and infrastructure like grocery stores or airport upgrades. They are also discussing technical details like how to move the waste underground and how to monitor the environment. While it sounds like a lot of planning is happening, the focus is very much on the municipal boundaries of Ignace, leaving many of us wondering where Melgund fits into the picture.
The Reality Check
What is being promised: The NWMO claims the project will follow the ‘highest safety standards’ and that they are committed to ‘transparency’ with the community.
What we need to verify: While ‘dialogue’ is promised, there are still no firm engineering commitments regarding the use of a ramp versus vertical shafts for emergency evacuations. Furthermore, the economic benefits seem to be concentrated in Ignace, while the physical risks and construction disruptions sit squarely on the doorstep of Melgund residents.
The Path Forward
The report noted a significant gap in emergency planning, specifically the reliance on vertical shafts which could make evacuation difficult in a fire or hoist failure; therefore, we are calling for a formal, published engineering study that compares a ramp system to the current shaft design. Additionally, the report highlighted concerns about high background radiation in local wells; therefore, we are calling for a third-party verified environmental baseline study that specifically includes the private wells and water bodies used by residents in Borups Corners and Dyment, not just the large lakes near Ignace.
Why It Matters Here
For those of us who chose this part of Northwestern Ontario for the hunting, the fishing, and the silence, the Revell Site represents a massive change. If the Deep Geological Repository moves forward, we need to know that our water is safe and that our roads won’t just be thoroughfares for construction without any local benefit. We cannot be a ‘sacrifice zone’ where we take the risk while the neighboring township gets the new amenities.
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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