Section Synopsis
Pages: 33-41The NWMO's biophysical environment summary outlines the baseline conditions for the Revell Site DGR, covering geology, hydrology, wildlife, and atmospheric conditions. The document asserts that the Revell Batholith is a stable, homogeneous rock mass suitable for nuclear waste isolation. It acknowledges existing environmental stressors, such as industrial emissions from Dryden and Ignace and natural metal exceedances in soil and water, while concluding that the project poses a low risk of adverse effects due to planned mitigation and the inherent characteristics of the site.
Community Assessment Narrative
As residents of Melgund Township, located less than 10km from the proposed Revell Site, this summary feels like a polished attempt to minimize the massive industrial footprint about to land in our backyard. The NWMO uses 'corporate speak' like 'statistically similar' and 'screening-level assessment' to gloss over the fact that for years they didn't even have a weather station on-site, relying instead on data from Dryden—55km away. For those of us at Borups Corners, the weather and wind patterns are specific to our ridge and valley system, not a town an hour's drive west. The claim that most impacts will be 'low level' or 'small' is a subjective generalization that ignores the lived reality of living near a decade-long construction site involving deep-rock blasting and constant heavy haulage.
Impacts on Local Recreation: The document mentions Mennin Lake and the Wabigoon River watershed but fails to address how the 'acoustic and visual environment' changes will destroy the peace of our local hunting and fishing spots. Our community relies on the network of logging roads and trails for snowmobiling and ATV use; the 'Project Area' effectively carves a hole out of accessible Crown land. Furthermore, the Dyment Recreation Hall serves as our social anchor; the influx of a temporary workforce and the 'stigma' of a nuclear repository could fundamentally alter the character of our community gatherings. If the 'visual environment' is reduced to a photo of a generic forest, it ignores the light pollution and industrial towers that will soon dominate our night skies, potentially ending the quiet, dark-sky camping experiences that define this region.
The NWMO's tactic of pointing out existing 'natural' exceedances of mercury and E. coli feels like a defensive maneuver to lower the bar for their own future performance. By claiming the environment is already 'stressed' by nearby mills and highways, they seem to be suggesting that a little more impact won't matter. For Melgund residents, this is unacceptable. We need to know exactly how the noise from 24/7 drilling and the dust from excavated granodiorite will be kept off our properties, not just that it's 'anticipated to have a low level of risk.'
Corrective Measures & Recommendations
The NWMO must establish a permanent, real-time environmental monitoring station specifically within Melgund Township/Dyment. This station should provide public, transparent data on noise levels, dust (PM2.5 and PM10), and ambient radiation. Relying on regional data from Thunder Bay or Winnipeg for air quality is scientifically insulting to the local community. We demand a localized baseline that reflects the specific air shed of the Revell Batholith and the immediate downwind receptors in our township.
Furthermore, a formal 'Recreation and Access Agreement' must be negotiated with Melgund residents. This should include guaranteed maintained access to traditional hunting and fishing grounds, or the creation of new, protected ATV and snowmobile trail bypasses to replace any land lost to the project footprint. The NWMO should also provide direct financial support to the Dyment Recreation Hall to ensure it remains a viable community hub capable of hosting independent technical experts to review NWMO's 'glossy' findings on behalf of the residents.
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 "Summary of Issues" (SOI) published by the IAAC, particularly regarding the inadequacy of baseline data and the need for localized monitoring. The Township’s concern regarding the lack of local air quality monitoring stations—noting the nearest is 240km away—is directly validated by the IAAC’s inclusion of "Monitoring of effects during construction and operations on air, water, soil and from blasting" in Annex A. Furthermore, the community’s demand for a permanent, real-time monitoring station in Dyment aligns with the IAAC’s identified need for "transparency in reporting monitoring results" under the "Monitoring and institutional control" theme.
There is a significant and specific alignment regarding the "fingerprinting" of contaminants. Melgund Township’s observation that the NWMO may be using "natural" geology to mask potential project-related leaks (specifically mercury) is strongly supported by the IAAC’s section on "Human Health and Well-Being." The IAAC explicitly flags "cumulative health effects in the region... including the intergenerational health implications of historic mercury releases from Dryden Mill." This suggests that both the community and the Agency recognize that the proponent’s baseline must be rigorously scrutinized to prevent historical industrial legacies from being used as a shield for future project impacts.
Regarding land use and social impacts, the Township’s call for a "Recreation and Access Agreement" to protect hunting, fishing, and ATV trails is mirrored in the IAAC’s "Socio-Economic Conditions" section. The SOI specifically lists the need for information on how the project affects "recreation, tourism, fishing, hunting... and existing roads." Additionally, the community’s concern about noise and vibration impacts on the Dyment Recreation Hall is reflected in the IAAC’s acknowledgment of "psychosocial health impacts" and "noise" as a health effect, as well as the specific mention of monitoring impacts from "blasting" during construction.
A notable gap exists regarding the visual environment. While Melgund Township specifically identified the lack of 3D viewshed modeling and criticized the proponent’s "dismissive" use of generic photos, the IAAC SOI does not explicitly categorize "visual impacts" or "landscape industrialization" as a standalone issue. While this could be broadly interpreted under "psychosocial impacts," the community’s specific technical requirement for viewshed modeling from local residences appears to be a more detailed concern than what is currently captured in the federal summary. Similarly, while the IAAC mentions "community-led baseline data collection," it does not specifically address the Township’s recommendation for direct financial support to local hubs like the Dyment Recreation Hall to facilitate independent technical reviews.
Key Claims
Underlying Assumptions
Critical Observations & Gaps
Analysis Table| Issue Identified | Implication | Information Required |
|---|---|---|
| No existing air quality monitoring stations near the project; closest are 240km away. | Without local baseline air data, it will be impossible to hold the NWMO accountable for dust and emissions during the construction phase. | Immediate installation of air quality monitors in Dyment and Borups Corners. |
| Visual impacts are summarized by a single generic photo rather than viewshed modeling from local residences. | The 'visual environment' section is dismissive of the industrialization of a rural landscape. | 3D visual impact simulations from specific vantage points in Melgund Township. |
| Attributing all current COPC exceedances (mercury, etc.) to 'natural geology' or 'historical activities'. | Using 'natural' contamination as a baseline could allow the proponent to mask project-related leaks or spills. | A more rigorous 'fingerprinting' of existing vs. project-related contaminants. |
| Acoustic environment is mentioned but lacks specific decibel projections for the nearest neighbors. | Noise and vibration from deep-bore drilling and blasting will disrupt the quiet enjoyment of local properties and the Dyment Recreation Hall. | A comprehensive noise and vibration study with receptors placed at the Melgund township border. |
Working Group Recommendations
Demand the immediate installation of a permanent, real-time air quality monitoring station within Melgund Township (Dyment/Borups Corners) to replace the reliance on distant regional data.
Challenge the Proponent to demonstrate 100% self-sufficiency in emergency response capacity, including fire, medical, and spill response, for all project-related activities and transport.
Require a rigorous chemical 'fingerprinting' of existing surface water and soil contaminants to distinguish between natural geological exceedances and future project-related impacts.
Request a comprehensive noise and vibration impact study with specific monitoring receptors placed at the Melgund Township residential borders and the Dyment Recreation Hall.
Demand 3D viewshed modeling and light pollution simulations from specific residential vantage points in Borups Corners and Dyment to assess the industrialization of the rural landscape.
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.