Section Synopsis
Pages: 69-70The NWMO's concluding statement asserts that the Revell Site is technically suitable for a Deep Geological Repository, framing it as a safe, permanent solution for nuclear waste that aligns with Canadian values and climate goals. The document claims that environmental and human health risks will be 'negligible to low' following mitigation, while promising socio-economic benefits and continued engagement with Indigenous and municipal partners as they move toward formal licensing and impact assessments.
Community Assessment Narrative
The NWMO's summary is a masterclass in corporate optimism, using 'glossy' generalizations like 'permanent and responsible solution' and 'alignment with international best practices' to mask the profound uncertainties facing Melgund Township. By labeling potential risks as 'negligible to low' before the full Impact Statement is even complete, the proponent is essentially asking the community to accept their conclusions as a foregone conclusion. The text relies heavily on 'marketing fluff' regarding climate leadership and net-zero goals, which does little to address the immediate, physical reality of living less than 10km from a nuclear waste site. For residents of Dyment and Borups Corners, the document's focus on the Township of Ignace and WLON is a glaring omission; we are the ones who will deal with the daily grind of construction noise, heavy haul traffic, and the visual blight of an industrial complex in our backyard, yet we are relegated to the vague category of 'other potentially affected communities.' The mention of 'perceptions of potential radioactive contamination' is particularly patronizing, framing legitimate local fear and the resulting economic stigma as a psychological hurdle rather than a direct consequence of their project.
Impacts on Local Recreation: The document explicitly admits that the project will 'impact traditional land and resource use via changes to land use and land access for operational, safety, and security purposes.' For Melgund residents, this is a direct threat to our way of life. The Revell area is not just a 'site'; it is where we hunt, fish, and run our ATVs and snowmobiles. The imposition of 'security' zones likely means the closure of established trails and the loss of access to quiet crown lands. Furthermore, the influx of a temporary workforce and industrial activity will shatter the acoustic environment that makes our area a destination for camping and outdoor peace. There is no mention of how the Dyment Recreation Hall—the heart of our social life—will be protected from the increased traffic and noise, or if it will be rendered obsolete by the 'stigma' the NWMO so casually dismisses. If our trails are cut off and our lakes are surrounded by 'security' fences, the recreational soul of Melgund is at stake.
Corrective Measures & Recommendations
The NWMO must move beyond 'preliminary assessments' and provide a Melgund-specific Socio-Economic and Environmental Impact Study. This study must explicitly define what 'negligible' means in the context of our property values and the quiet enjoyment of our land. We demand a clear map of all proposed 'security and safety' exclusion zones to see exactly which hunting grounds and snowmobile trails are being seized. The proponent should also establish a direct 'Community Protection Fund' for Melgund Township, separate from any agreements with Ignace, to compensate for the loss of recreational access and to fund upgrades to the Dyment Recreation Hall.
Furthermore, the NWMO must provide a binding 'Traffic and Noise Mitigation Agreement' that includes strict limits on heavy machinery hours and a commitment to bypass Melgund's residential cores. If the project is as 'safe' and 'beneficial' as they claim, they should have no issue providing a property value guarantee for homeowners within a 15km radius of the Revell Site. We need more than 'engagement'; we need enforceable protections that ensure our township isn't left with all the stigma and none of the promised 'lasting benefits'.
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)
Based on a cross-reference of Melgund Township’s community findings against the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada’s (IAAC) "Summary of Issues" (SOI) published on February 16, 2026, there is a high degree of alignment between local concerns and the federal directives issued to the proponent.
Socio-Economic Equity and Benefit Sharing
Melgund Township’s concern regarding the inequitable focus on "Indigenous and municipal partners" (specifically Ignace) to the exclusion of unincorporated townships is directly validated by the IAAC. Under the Socio-Economic Conditions section of the SOI, the Agency explicitly flags the "Distribution of economic benefits for all regional communities." The SOI specifically notes concerns that benefits "may not be equitably shared among all affected regional communities, including those outside hosting agreement areas." This federal acknowledgement provides a strong policy basis for Melgund’s recommendation for a separate, township-specific infrastructure agreement and Community Protection Fund.
Land Access and Recreation
The community’s demand for detailed maps regarding "no-go" zones, hunting grounds, and snowmobile trails is fully supported by the SOI. The IAAC has directed the proponent to address "Socio-economic impacts to land use," specifically requiring information on how the project affects "recreation, tourism, fishing, hunting... and existing roads that are used by these land users." Furthermore, the community's specific anxiety regarding the "loss of recreational access" aligns with the SOI’s requirement to assess impacts on "Social cohesion and community wellbeing," which includes changes to lifestyle and community cohesion.
Stigma and Property Values
Melgund’s observation that the proponent is dismissing radioactive fears as mere "perceptions" is countered by the IAAC’s inclusion of perception as a tangible economic issue. The SOI includes a specific directive under Socio-Economic Conditions regarding "Economic impacts from public perception," noting that negative perceptions could impact local businesses. Additionally, the SOI explicitly lists "Economic impact on property value" as a key issue, covering homes and businesses. This supports Melgund’s call for a "Stigma Effect" study and validates their request for property value guarantees as a mitigation measure for these recognized risks.
Risk Characterization and Mitigation
There is a notable alignment regarding the community's skepticism of the proponent's "negligible to low" risk labels. Melgund’s request for clear thresholds for these terms is supported by Annex A of the SOI, where the IAAC notes concerns regarding "how uncertainty, risk, and the effectiveness of proposed mitigation measures are characterized." By questioning the adequacy of the Project Description in this regard, the IAAC has created a regulatory opening for Melgund to insist that "negligible" be defined by community-agreed metrics rather than solely by the proponent’s preliminary assessments.
Key Claims
Underlying Assumptions
Critical Observations & Gaps
Analysis Table| Issue Identified | Implication | Information Required |
|---|---|---|
| Framing radioactive contamination fears as 'perceptions' that alter land use. | Dismissing local concerns as 'perceptions' undermines the credibility of the engagement process and ignores real-world economic stigma. | A study on the 'Stigma Effect' on local property values and tourism-related businesses in Melgund. |
| Pre-emptive labeling of risks as 'negligible to low' before the Impact Statement is finalized. | If 'negligible' is defined by the proponent rather than the community, significant local changes may be ignored. | Clear, measurable thresholds for what constitutes a 'low' vs. 'moderate' impact on local air and water quality. |
| Focus on benefits for 'Indigenous and municipal partners' (Ignace) while ignoring unincorporated townships. | Melgund may bear the brunt of construction impacts without receiving the 'infrastructure and services' promised to larger hubs. | A formal benefit-sharing and infrastructure agreement specifically for Melgund/Dyment. |
| Reliance on 'preliminary assessments' to justify the path forward. | The community is being asked to trust 'preliminary' data as if it were final proof of safety. | Independent, third-party review of the 'suitability' data accessible to local residents. |
| Explicit mention of 'changes to land access' for security purposes. | Loss of land access is a primary concern for locals that is glossed over as a 'safety' necessity. | A detailed land-use map showing exactly where fences and 'no-go' zones will be placed relative to existing trails. |
Working Group Recommendations
Challenge the Proponent to demonstrate 100% self-sufficiency for all emergency response categories (Fire, Medical, and Security) within the Project site and its immediate transportation corridors, rather than relying on regional hubs.
Request a comprehensive land-use and access map detailing all proposed security and safety exclusion zones and their direct intersection with existing recreational trails, hunting grounds, and ATV/snowmobile routes used by Melgund residents.
Require the Proponent to establish and justify specific, quantitative thresholds for negligible and low impacts on air quality, noise levels, and water chemistry that are calibrated to the existing pristine baseline of the Melgund area.
Commission an independent socio-economic study on the Stigma Effect of the DGR on property values and tourism-dependent businesses within a 15km radius of the Revell Site, specifically targeting the unorganized township of Melgund.
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.