Will the DGR Change Our Backyards?
Living here in Northwestern Ontario, we know that our neighbours aren’t just the folks we see at the post office. Our community includes the moose in the marsh, the bats keeping the bug population down, and the turtles in our creeks. With the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) proposing the Revell Site for a Deep Geological Repository, many of us in Melgund Township, Borups Corners, and Dyment are asking: what happens to the wildlife when the heavy machinery rolls in?
We have reviewed the latest Impact Assessment documents to translate the technical data into plain English for our community.
What We Are Learning
The NWMO’s initial description confirms that the project site is home to a variety of wildlife, including moose, potential carnivores, and specifically five species of bats that are currently listed as endangered. They also noted the presence of Snapping Turtles.
The report is honest about the risks: without careful planning, site clearing, blasting, and construction could have a "moderate to high" negative impact on these animals. However, the NWMO concludes that by using standard industry "best practices," creating buffer zones, and following government regulations, the final risk to wildlife will be "negligible." essentially, they argue that while the work is major, the long-term harm to nature will be minor.
The Reality Check
As neighbours, we want to trust the process, but we also need to verify the details. Here is how the claims stack up against the evidence:
- What is being promised: The NWMO claims that applying the "ALARA" principle (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) to noise and light pollution will keep animals safe.
- What we need to verify: "Reasonably Achievable" is a vague term. We need to know the specific noise and light limits. A light that seems dim to a construction crew might be blinding enough to disrupt the feeding patterns of an endangered bat.
- What is being promised: The report suggests that wide-ranging animals like wolverines and cougars are rare enough that they won’t be significantly bothered.
- What we need to verify: Even if these animals are rare, the Revell Site might be a crucial travel corridor. We need to ensure we aren’t accidentally cutting off a migration route that connects different parts of the region.
The Path Forward
We have identified a specific gap in the current plan regarding our local Species at Risk.
The Gap: The assessment relies heavily on general "best management practices" to protect five different species of endangered bats found on-site. However, general rules often fail to address specific needs, such as where these bats sleep (roost) or raise their young.
The Solution: We are calling for a comprehensive Species at Risk Management Plan. We don’t just want promises of "careful clearing." We need the NWMO to commit to specific actions, such as installing artificial maternity roosts and strictly timing construction to avoid breeding seasons. Furthermore, we need independent biological monitors on the ground to verify these protections work. This moves the plan from "negligible risk" on paper to actual safety in the forest.
Why It Matters Here
For those of us in Melgund Township and surrounding areas, this isn’t just about regulatory compliance; it’s about our lifestyle. If the bat populations crash, the insect population spikes, affecting everything from our summer evenings to our gardens. If the noise drives game animals away from the Revell Site, it changes the hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities that define life in Northwestern Ontario. We need to ensure that the quiet woods we value aren’t permanently altered by industrial noise and light.
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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