A Deep Dive into the Revell Site Plans
In our quiet corner of Northwestern Ontario, the proposed Revell Site is moving from a concept to a very busy construction plan. The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) recently shared details about how they plan to build the Deep Geological Repository. For those of us in Melgund Township, Borups Corners, and Dyment, this Impact Assessment isn’t just paperwork—it’s a blueprint for what could be happening right beneath our feet.
What We Are Learning
The plan involves digging out “placement rooms” using a method called “drill and blast.” Imagine a series of underground hallways where nuclear waste containers will be tucked away. To keep things moving, the NWMO wants to dig new rooms at the same time they are filling others with waste. They’re planning twin tunnels to keep the construction traffic separate from the nuclear waste traffic, and they’ll have underground shops, offices, and even “refuge stations” for workers.
The Reality Check
What is being promised: The NWMO says “controlled” blasting will be used and that 97% of the rock they dig up is safe and won’t leak acid into our water.
What we need to verify: We need to know if those blasting vibrations will rattle the bentonite seals meant to keep the waste contained. Also, while 97% sounds like a high grade, the remaining 3% of rock could still mean thousands of tonnes of potentially reactive material sitting on our surface.
The Path Forward
The report noted that excavation and waste placement will happen simultaneously; therefore, we are calling for a strict “Simultaneous Operations” protocol that proves blasting won’t compromise the safety of the waste already in the ground. Additionally, the assessment mentioned that 3% of the rock has different minerals; therefore, we are demanding a full mineral report and a plan to manage that rock so it doesn’t impact our local watersheds. We also need a real plan for the “interim” waste stored on-site so it doesn’t become a permanent fixture in our backyard.
Why It Matters Here
For us in Melgund Township, Borups Corners, and Dyment, this is about more than just rocks and tunnels. It’s about the silence of our woods being replaced by industrial blasting and the safety of the water we fish in. If the rock management isn’t perfect, or if the “interim” waste stays forever, it changes the character of Northwestern Ontario for generations.
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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