Section Synopsis
Pages: 52-53This section outlines the proposed structure for documenting the project's potential effects, including environmental changes under federal jurisdiction, impacts on Indigenous peoples, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste management strategies. It serves as a framework for the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) to develop tailored guidelines for the project's formal review.
Community Assessment Narrative
The NWMO's summary of 'Potential Effects' is a classic example of bureaucratic distancing. By framing the discussion around 'legislative authority of Parliament' and 'federal lands,' the document effectively ignores the immediate, lived reality of those of us in Melgund Township. We are less than 10km from the Revell site, yet this outline treats the environment as a series of legal checkboxes rather than the woods and waters we live in. The use of phrases like 'if it is determined that an IA is required' feels like a subtle attempt to downplay the necessity of a full, rigorous review, while the promise of 'comprehensive information' is currently just a list of empty headers. For residents of Dyment and Borups Corners, these glossy generalizations provide zero comfort regarding the industrialization of our quiet rural landscape.
Impacts on Local Recreation: The mention of 'waste and emissions' and 'changes to components of the environment' in Sections 20 and 24 directly threatens our local way of life. Our hunting grounds and fishing spots near the Revell site are at risk of being cordoned off or contaminated by the 'stigma' of nuclear waste, even if the technical data claims safety. The acoustic environment, essential for the peace of our camping and snowmobiling trails, will be shattered by heavy machinery and transport trucks. Furthermore, the Dyment Recreation Hall, which serves as our community's social heart, faces being overshadowed by a massive influx of transient workers and industrial traffic that our small-town infrastructure was never meant to handle. The NWMO must move beyond 'federal lands' and address the specific loss of access to the ATV trails and crown lands that Melgund residents have used for generations.
Corrective Measures & Recommendations
The proponent must immediately provide a localized impact study specifically for Melgund Township and the Dyment/Borups Corners area, rather than hiding behind broad federal categories. This study should include baseline acoustic monitoring and light-pollution projections to ensure the 'dark sky' and quiet nature of our community are preserved. We demand a clear definition of what constitutes a 'significant' impact, as local residents' thresholds for noise and traffic are much lower than those of a major urban center.
To mitigate the social and recreational strain, the NWMO should establish a permanent endowment for the Dyment Recreation Hall and local trail maintenance. This would serve as a tangible benefit to offset the loss of quiet enjoyment of the land. Additionally, a formal 'Land Access Guarantee' is required to ensure that hunting, fishing, and snowmobiling activities are not restricted outside the immediate footprint of the facility, protecting our traditional recreational use of the surrounding crown 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)
Melgund Township’s community findings demonstrate a high degree of alignment with the IAAC Summary of Issues (SOI), particularly regarding the socio-economic and land-use impacts of the proposed DGR. The Township’s concern regarding the "loss of quiet enjoyment of the land" and the need for a "Land Access Guarantee" for hunting, fishing, and snowmobiling is directly mirrored in the IAAC’s section on Socio-economic impacts to land use. The Agency explicitly acknowledges the need for information on how the project affects regional recreation, hunting, and fishing. Furthermore, Melgund’s recommendation for a permanent endowment for the Dyment Recreation Hall aligns with the IAAC’s identified issue regarding the Distribution of economic benefits for all regional communities, which highlights concerns that benefits may not be equitably shared with communities located outside of formal hosting agreement areas.
There is also strong validation between the community’s call for localized studies and the IAAC’s broader requirements for baseline data. Melgund’s demand for specific disclosure of chemical and radiological releases into the local watershed is supported by the IAAC’s sections on Radiological contamination of water and Radiological effects on health, which flag concerns about contamination of local drinking water and aquifers. Additionally, the Township’s insistence on independent oversight and localized impact studies is validated by the SOI’s mention of the need for community-led baseline data collection under the Socio-Economic Conditions theme. This suggests that the Agency recognizes the proponent’s current data may be too broad or insufficient for specific local contexts like the Dyment/Borups Corners area.
However, a significant gap exists regarding the specific rural identity and environmental thresholds of unincorporated townships. Melgund’s observations highlight an "exclusion of local municipal/township identities," arguing that the current framework focuses too heavily on a binary of "Indigenous Peoples" and "Federal Lands," thereby overlooking non-Indigenous local social infrastructure. While the IAAC SOI mentions "noise" and "light" under the Indigenous Peoples health section, these factors are less emphasized in the general public health and social sections. Melgund’s specific request for baseline acoustic monitoring and light-pollution projections to protect "dark sky" conditions represents a localized environmental priority that the IAAC has not yet fully integrated as a primary concern for the broader public. Furthermore, the Township’s demand for a rural-specific definition of "significant" impact—noting that noise and traffic thresholds are lower in Melgund than in urban centers—is a nuanced policy point currently missing from the IAAC’s more generalized summary of social cohesion and wellbeing.
Key Claims
Underlying Assumptions
Critical Observations & Gaps
Analysis Table| Issue Identified | Implication | Information Required |
|---|---|---|
| Exclusion of local municipal/township identities in the impact framework. | By focusing on 'Indigenous Peoples' and 'Federal Lands,' the document ignores the specific socio-economic impacts on non-Indigenous local townships like Melgund. | A specific section dedicated to the impacts on nearby unincorporated communities and their social infrastructure. |
| Lack of specificity regarding local air and water quality impacts. | Vague references to 'waste and emissions' do not address the specific types of radiological or industrial waste residents fear. | Detailed disclosure of expected chemical and radiological releases into the local watershed. |
| The summary suggests a predetermined conclusion of safety and manageability. | The 'path forward' in Section 26 is likely to be a proponent-led narrative that minimizes local opposition. | Independent, community-led oversight of the 'conclusions' reached in Section 26. |
Working Group Recommendations
Request a detailed inventory of radiological and industrial waste streams and their specific discharge points into the local watershed near the Revell site, as referenced in Sections 24 and 25 of the Proponent's submission.
Demand the establishment of baseline acoustic and light-pollution monitoring stations within Melgund Township (Dyment/Borups Corners) to protect the 'dark sky' and quiet rural character mentioned in the Initial Project Description's environmental change sections.
Formally include 'Local Recreational Land Use' and 'Social Cohesion (Dyment Recreation Hall)' as Valued Components (VCs) in the Impact Statement guidelines to address the gaps in Section 22 of the Proponent's submission.
Challenge the Proponent to demonstrate 100% self-sufficiency in emergency response (Fire, Medical, Spill Response) for the Revell site and transport corridors within Melgund Township, as the management plans in Section 25 currently lack local context.
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.