Section Synopsis
Pages: viiiThe NWMO document outlines the management strategy for low-level (LLW) and intermediate-level (ILW) radioactive waste generated during the DGR project's lifecycle. It states that these wastes, such as contaminated clothing and filters, will be stored on-site in licensed facilities temporarily before being moved to permanent disposal sites elsewhere in Canada, in accordance with federal policy.
Community Assessment Narrative
The NWMO's description of 'Other Radioactive Wastes' is a classic example of corporate sanitization. By labeling contaminated tools and filters as 'things like' clothing, they attempt to minimize the industrial reality of the Revell site. For those of us in Melgund Township, the term 'interim management' is a major red flag. In the nuclear world, 'interim' can span generations, meaning Dyment and Borups Corners could effectively become a secondary dumping ground for operational waste for fifty years or more while we wait for a second DGR to be built elsewhere. The document relies heavily on 'consistent with CNSC requirements' as a shield against local concerns, failing to explain what these 'licensed facilities' will actually look like on our horizon or how they will impact our local environment. Impacts on Local Recreation: The proposed on-site storage of LLW and ILW introduces an expanded industrial footprint that directly threatens the wilderness character of the Revell area. Our community's identity is tied to the land; we hunt, fish, and traverse the bush on ATVs and snowmobiles. Any expansion of 'licensed facilities' likely means more fences, more security patrols, and more 'no trespassing' signs on Crown land we have used for decades. There is a high risk that the acoustic environment—the silence we value—will be shattered by the additional construction and handling of these wastes. Furthermore, the Dyment Recreation Hall serves as our social anchor; if the area becomes synonymous with a multi-waste storage site, we fear a decline in the seasonal tourism and local gatherings that keep our community spirit alive. The NWMO treats the land as a blank map for 'facilities,' ignoring that it is our backyard.
Corrective Measures & Recommendations
The NWMO must provide a definitive, maximum timeline for 'interim' storage with significant financial penalties payable to Melgund Township if waste remains on-site past the decommissioning phase. We need a clear commitment that 'interim' will not become 'permanent' by default if the federal government fails to site a second DGR for intermediate waste. Additionally, the proponent must release a detailed transportation plan specifically for these secondary wastes, as they represent additional truck traffic through Borups Corners beyond the used fuel shipments already discussed. To mitigate the loss of recreational value and community stigma, the NWMO should establish a permanent endowment fund for the Dyment Recreation Hall and local trail maintenance. They must also guarantee 'right-to-access' for hunters and trappers in areas not strictly required for the immediate footprint of the storage buildings, ensuring that the project does not result in a massive, unnecessary exclusion zone that eats up our traditional recreation lands.
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)
The community findings from Melgund Township show a high degree of alignment with the IAAC Summary of Issues (SOI), particularly regarding socio-economic impacts and the long-term management of secondary waste. Melgund’s concern that the Revell site will suffer from a "nuclear dump" stigma and subsequent loss of property value is directly validated by the IAAC under the Socio-Economic Conditions theme, which explicitly lists "Economic impact on property value" and "Economic impacts from public perception" as key issues. The Township’s observation that the project glosses over the impact of being a multi-waste storage site supports the IAAC’s call for more information under Other Key Issues: Future modifications for accepted waste, which demands clarity on the types and volumes of waste to be managed.
A significant technical alignment exists regarding the "interim" storage of Intermediate-Level Waste (ILW). Melgund’s concern that the Revell site could become a de facto permanent home for ILW due to the lack of a second disposal site is mirrored in the IAAC’s Other Key Issues: Alternative means section, which flags the storage of intermediate and low-level waste as a specific concern. Melgund’s recommendation for a "definitive, maximum timeline" for storage and financial penalties for delays provides a concrete community-led solution to the IAAC’s broader concern regarding Monitoring and institutional control and the "long-term access conditions" of the site.
Regarding land use and community well-being, Melgund’s findings provide specific local evidence for the IAAC’s Socio-economic impacts to land use category. While the IAAC identifies general concerns about "recreation, tourism, fishing, hunting, [and] trapping," Melgund identifies specific assets at risk, such as the Dyment Recreation Hall and local trail networks. The Township’s demand for a "right-to-access" guarantee for hunters and trappers validates the IAAC’s concern regarding "reduced access to, or availability of, lands... used for traditional, cultural, or subsistence purposes" found in the Indigenous Peoples and Socio-Economic sections.
A notable gap exists in the geographic and operational specificity of transportation. While the IAAC SOI includes a comprehensive Transportation section covering "infrastructure preparedness" and "radiological effects," it does not specifically highlight the distinction between used fuel shipments and the additional truck traffic generated by secondary wastes (LLW/ILW). Melgund’s identification of Borups Corners as a specific pressure point for this secondary waste traffic is a localized issue that the IAAC has not yet explicitly flagged. Melgund’s analysis suggests that the proponent’s current transportation scope may be too narrow, failing to account for the cumulative traffic of "secondary wastes" alongside the primary used fuel shipments.
Key Claims
Underlying Assumptions
Critical Observations & Gaps
Analysis Table| Issue Identified | Implication | Information Required |
|---|---|---|
| The document glosses over the impact of being a multi-waste storage site. | Melgund becomes a hub for multiple types of radioactive waste, increasing the 'nuclear dump' stigma and potentially lowering property values. | A socio-economic study on the impact of LLW/ILW storage on local property values and tourism. |
| Lack of detail on the physical footprint of LLW/ILW storage facilities. | Additional facilities mean more land clearing and potential runoff issues near local water bodies used for fishing. | Site maps showing the exact location and size of these secondary waste facilities relative to the Revell site. |
| Dependency on a non-existent future disposal facility for ILW. | If a second DGR is never built, the Revell site becomes the de facto permanent home for ILW by default. | Contingency plans for what happens if the 'Integrated Strategy' fails to produce a second disposal site. |
Working Group Recommendations
Demand the Proponent demonstrate 100% self-sufficiency for emergency response and fire suppression capabilities for the proposed on-site LLW and ILW storage facilities.
Request detailed site maps and footprint specifications for the 'licensed facilities' intended for interim LLW/ILW storage to assess cumulative land clearing and runoff impacts.
Require a socio-economic study on the impact of long-term 'interim' storage of LLW and ILW on local property values and the 'nuclear dump' stigma in Melgund.
Request a comprehensive transportation safety plan specifically for the eventual removal of LLW and ILW from the Revell site through Borups Corners.
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.