Making Sense of the Big Players in Our Backyard
As we look out over Northwestern Ontario, the proposed Revell Site near Melgund Township feels like a lot to take in. The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) recently shared how they’re working with government agencies on this Deep Geological Repository, but as your neighbors at ECO-STAR North, we wanted to see what that actually means for us in Borups Corners and Dyment. We’ve been digging through the Impact Assessment documents to see who is really looking out for our neck of the woods.
What We Are Learning
The NWMO has a long list of government partners. They talk to folks in Ottawa and Toronto about everything from land use to how many jobs might be created. They’ve even been talking to international groups because people in the U.S. are worried about the Great Lakes. On paper, it looks like everyone is at the table, but when you look closer, some of the seats are currently empty.
The Reality Check
- What is being promised: The NWMO says they are working closely with experts to ensure every part of the project is covered by federal and provincial oversight.
- What we need to verify: While the list of agencies is long, some key players—like the ones in charge of our roads and our long-term health—aren’t as involved as you might think.
The Path Forward
The report noted that Transport Canada’s involvement has been “sporadic” because they don’t have the “capacity” to engage regularly right now; therefore, we are calling for a formal, multi-year agreement that forces federal transport experts to be at the table immediately. We cannot wait decades for a regulator to show up. We need our Highway 17 safety plans and emergency response protocols reviewed by the government today, not after the project is already built. Furthermore, we need the Crown to stop delegating its consultation duties to the proponent and instead provide independent, public-facing audits of how our community’s concerns are being handled.
Why It Matters Here
For those of us in Dyment and Borups Corners, this isn’t just paperwork. If the people in charge of transportation safety are too busy to check the plans for moving nuclear waste past our driveways, that’s a major concern for our local safety. We also noticed that health officials were used to “share the safety case” rather than conduct independent studies on how this might affect our peace of mind and local lifestyle. We deserve oversight that prioritizes our families over corporate timelines.
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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