Section Synopsis
Pages: 16-17The NWMO indicates that no regional assessments or studies currently exist for the area surrounding the proposed Revell Site DGR. The document notes that the nearest ongoing regional assessment is located in the Ring of Fire area, approximately 534 kilometers away.
Community Assessment Narrative
The NWMO's statement regarding the lack of regional assessments is a classic example of corporate deflection. By stating that 'no regional studies' exist, they are essentially admitting to a vacuum of knowledge while simultaneously using it to lower the bar for their own environmental responsibilities. Mentioning the Ring of Fire assessment—which is over 500 kilometers away—is a blatant piece of marketing fluff designed to make it seem like they've done their homework, when in reality, a study in the far north has zero relevance to the families living in Melgund Township or Borups Corners. It is a distraction from the fact that they are moving into an area without understanding the cumulative regional pressures.
For those of us in Melgund, this 'information gap' is deeply concerning. Without a regional assessment, the NWMO is ignoring how the DGR will interact with existing logging operations, the heavy traffic on Highway 17, and the delicate watershed that connects our properties. They are treating the Revell site as an island, ignoring the reality that the noise, dust, and influx of hundreds of workers will spill over into our backyards. The lack of data isn't an excuse to proceed; it's a reason to stop and actually look at the people living less than 10km from the blast zone.
Impacts on Local Recreation: The absence of a regional study is a direct threat to our way of life. Our community relies on the interconnected network of crown lands for hunting, fishing, and the extensive snowmobile and ATV trails that define our winters and summers. Without a regional assessment, there is no baseline for the 'acoustic environment'—the silence we value. The influx of a transient workforce could easily overtax local fishing spots and disrupt traditional hunting grounds. Furthermore, the Dyment Recreation Hall serves as our primary social hub; any increase in industrial traffic or the 'stigma' of a nuclear waste site could diminish the usage of this vital facility and the quiet enjoyment of the surrounding lands.
Corrective Measures & Recommendations
The NWMO must immediately fund and commission a 'Local-Regional Impact Study' specifically for the Melgund, Dyment, and Borups Corners area. This study should not rely on 'publicly available' generic data but must involve boots-on-the-ground mapping of local hunting trails, snowmobile routes, and noise baseline monitoring at the Dyment Recreation Hall. We cannot accept a 'no data' excuse when our property values and recreational access are on the line.
Furthermore, the proponent must establish a formal 'Recreation and Access Guarantee.' This should include legally binding commitments to maintain access to all crown lands currently used for ATV and snowmobiling, and a mitigation fund specifically for the Dyment Recreation Hall to ensure it remains a viable community center despite the industrialization of the nearby landscape. If they claim there are no regional impacts, they should have no problem guaranteeing our current quality of life in writing.
On 16 February, 2026 the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC), with input from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), published a Summary of Issues (SOI) for the proposed Deep Geological Repository (DGR) for Canada’s Used Nuclear Fuel Project, put forward by the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO). The SOI identifies the key issues that IAAC considers relevant to the federal integrated impact assessment process for the project. NWMO’s response to the SOI will assist IAAC in determining whether an impact assessment is required under section 16 of the Impact Assessment Act. If an impact assessment is required, the issues outlined in the SOI—together with NWMO’s response—will help shape the scope of the assessment and inform the continued development and finalization of the Integrated Tailored Impact Statement Guidelines and associated plans.
Alignments to IAAC Summary (SOI)
Melgund Township’s findings demonstrate a strong alignment with several key themes in the IAAC Summary of Issues (SOI), particularly regarding the inadequacy of baseline data and the potential for overlooked regional impacts. The community’s concern that the NWMO is relying on the absence of regional studies is directly validated by the IAAC under the Socio-Economic Conditions section, which explicitly identifies a "need for community-led baseline data collection." Furthermore, the Township’s observation that cumulative effects from forestry and transport are being ignored aligns with the IAAC’s focus on Cumulative environmental effects, which flags the "combined pressures of past and existing mining and forestry activities" as a primary concern.
There is a specific and critical alignment regarding land use and recreation. Melgund Township’s demand for "boots-on-the-ground mapping" of hunting trails and snowmobile routes is mirrored in the IAAC SOI section Socio-economic impacts to land use. The Agency notes a "need for information on how the project may affect the region's land use and access including recreation, tourism, fishing, hunting... and existing roads." This suggests that the federal regulators share the community’s skepticism regarding the proponent’s current data set and support the requirement for more granular, localized mapping of recreational assets.
However, a notable discrepancy exists in the geographic characterization of the project. While the IAAC SOI focuses on "local communities" and "regional communities," it does not explicitly address the community’s grievance regarding the NWMO’s comparison of the Revell site to the "Ring of Fire." Melgund Township identifies this as a significant socio-economic issue, arguing that such comparisons mischaracterize a residential corridor as a remote industrial zone. While the IAAC mentions Psychosocial health impacts and Public perception, the community’s specific critique of the proponent’s comparative methodology represents a gap where the Township has identified a localized concern that the IAAC has framed more broadly.
Finally, Melgund Township’s recommendation for a "Recreation and Access Guarantee" and a mitigation fund for the Dyment Recreation Hall provides a concrete solution to the issues raised in the IAAC’s Distribution of economic benefits and Social cohesion sections. The IAAC flags concerns that benefits may not be "equitably shared among all affected regional communities, including those outside hosting agreement areas." Melgund’s findings provide the specific evidence needed to support this federal concern, identifying the Dyment Recreation Hall as a vulnerable community asset that requires the "legally binding commitments" the IAAC’s summary implies are necessary for equitable treatment of non-host neighbors.
Key Claims
Underlying Assumptions
Critical Observations & Gaps
Analysis Table| Issue Identified | Implication | Information Required |
|---|---|---|
| Total reliance on the absence of existing regional studies. | Without a regional study, the cumulative effects of the DGR alongside other industries (forestry, transport) are completely ignored. | A proponent-led regional assessment focused on the Wabigoon-Ignace-Melgund corridor. |
| Irrelevant geographic comparisons (Ring of Fire). | Comparing the Revell site to the Ring of Fire suggests the NWMO views our home as a remote industrial zone rather than a residential community. | Specific socio-economic data regarding the Melgund Township and Borups Corners residents. |
| Lack of baseline data for regional land use and recreation. | Recreational land use (hunting, fishing, trails) is not being tracked at a regional scale, leading to potential permanent loss of access. | A comprehensive survey of local trail systems and hunting/fishing pressure. |
Working Group Recommendations
Challenge the Proponent's statement that 'no regional studies' exist by mandating the creation of a specific Regional Cumulative Effects Assessment for the Wabigoon-Ignace-Melgund corridor.
Request the immediate commissioning of a 'Local-Regional Land Use and Recreation Study' to fill the admitted gap in regional assessments for the Melgund, Dyment, and Borups Corners area.
Understanding the Impacts of Nuclear Waste on our Community
This digital archive houses the public comments submitted to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada regarding Project 88774: The Nuclear Waste Management Organization Deep Geological Repository (DGR) for Canada's Used Nuclear Fuel Project. The impact assessment is led jointly by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. This archive preserves community perspectives, concerns, and observations shared during the assessment process, particularly in relation to Melgund Township, Northwestern Ontario and the communities of Dyment and Borups Corners who are the closest and most impacted of all in the process.