Section Synopsis
Pages: 47-48The NWMO states that the Deep Geological Repository project receives no financial support from federal authorities and will not utilize any federal lands for its implementation.
Community Assessment Narrative
Sections 17 and 18 of this summary are classic examples of 'corporate minimalism'—using brief, technically true statements to avoid discussing the massive footprint this project will have on our township. By stating there is no federal financial support, the NWMO distances the federal government from the project's liabilities, yet they fail to mention that the NWMO itself is a creature of federal legislation (the Nuclear Fuel Waste Act). For those of us in Melgund, this lack of federal funding raises a red flag: if the feds aren't paying, who is going to cover the massive upgrades needed for our roads and emergency services when the heavy haulers start rolling through Borups Corners? The document treats 'federal land' as the only category that matters, conveniently ignoring that the Revell site sits on provincial Crown land which we, the residents, rely on for our way of life.
Impacts on Local Recreation: The claim that no federal land is being used is a hollow comfort for Melgund residents. The Revell site is located on provincial Crown land that serves as the primary grounds for our hunting, fishing, and trapping. By industrializing this area, the NWMO is effectively seizing the 'backyard' of Dyment and Borups Corners. We expect to see traditional ATV and snowmobile trails cut off or rerouted, and the acoustic environment—currently silent enough to hear a breeze through the pines—will be shattered by construction noise. Furthermore, the influx of a temporary workforce will put unprecedented pressure on our local lakes and the Dyment Recreation Hall. There is a high risk that our quiet community spaces will be overrun by outsiders, turning our peaceful recreation hubs into busy industrial staging zones.
Corrective Measures & Recommendations
The proponent must provide a detailed map of the 'Project Area' that distinguishes between private, provincial Crown, and any other land designations, specifically highlighting how current access to hunting and snowmobile trails will be maintained or compensated. Since no federal funding is provided, the NWMO must establish a direct, legally binding 'Melgund Infrastructure Fund' to ensure that our local township doesn't foot the bill for the wear and tear on our roads and the increased demand on our volunteer fire services.
Additionally, the NWMO should provide a 'Recreation Guarantee' that includes a commitment to upgrade the Dyment Recreation Hall and protect local water bodies from increased fishing pressure caused by the project's workforce. They must move beyond 'no federal land' talking points and address the reality that provincial Crown land is not 'empty' land—it is our community's primary resource for recreation and subsistence.
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 show a strong alignment with several key themes in the IAAC Summary of Issues (SOI), particularly regarding the socio-economic pressures placed on small municipalities. The community’s concern over the "lack of clarity on the funding model" and the potential financial burden of infrastructure upgrades directly supports the IAAC’s identified issue under Infrastructure and Services, which flags concerns regarding the "effects of temporary workers on services and infrastructure" and the "adequacy of mitigation measures." Melgund’s specific observation that the absence of federal funding may force the township to foot the bill for road wear and volunteer fire services provides a concrete local justification for the IAAC’s broader concern about "Future service & infrastructure planning."
There is also a significant alignment regarding land use and access. The IAAC SOI section on Socio-Economic Conditions explicitly lists "Socio-economic impacts to land use," including recreation, hunting, and existing roads. Melgund’s analysis validates this by identifying a perceived "misleading focus" by the proponent on federal land jurisdiction. The community’s finding that the project occupies vast tracts of provincial Crown land used for subsistence and recreation reinforces the IAAC’s requirement for the proponent to address how the project affects regional land access. Melgund’s recommendation for a "Recreation Guarantee" and a detailed map of project area designations serves as a specific community-led solution to the IAAC’s general call for information on land use impacts.
A notable gap exists where Melgund Township has identified a specific driver of risk that the IAAC SOI touches upon only generally: the legal and financial relationship between the proponent and various levels of government. While the IAAC’s Annex A mentions concerns regarding the "adequacy, clarity, and transparency of the Project Description," Melgund specifically identifies the proponent’s "no federal land/no federal funding" talking points as a strategy to minimize the perceived footprint. Furthermore, Melgund’s concern regarding "increased fishing pressure" on local water bodies caused by the workforce adds a specific socio-ecological dimension to the IAAC’s broader concerns under Groundwater and Surface Water and Socio-Economic Conditions. By proposing a legally binding "Melgund Infrastructure Fund," the community is moving beyond the IAAC’s identified "concerns" to demand a specific regulatory mechanism to address the "distribution of economic benefits" mentioned in the SOI.
Key Claims
Underlying Assumptions
Critical Observations & Gaps
Analysis Table| Issue Identified | Implication | Information Required |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of clarity on the funding model for community impacts. | If no federal funds are involved, the financial burden for local infrastructure upgrades may fall on small townships or the proponent's private discretion. | A transparent breakdown of the funding sources for municipal mitigation and infrastructure. |
| Misleading focus on land jurisdiction rather than land use. | The focus on 'federal land' obscures the fact that the project will occupy vast tracts of provincial Crown land used by locals. | A comprehensive land-use impact study for the Revell site and surrounding Melgund Township. |
| Glossy generalizations that hide the reality of the project's scale. | The brevity of these sections suggests a desire to minimize the perceived footprint and complexity of the project. | More detailed disclosures on the legal and financial relationships between the NWMO, the federal government, and provincial land authorities. |
Working Group Recommendations
Challenge the Proponent to demonstrate 100% self-sufficiency for emergency medical, fire, and spill response for the Revell site and the transportation corridor through Borups Corners and Dyment, including a detailed assessment of response times from regional hubs.
Request a comprehensive land-use and access study for the provincial Crown lands within the Revell site and surrounding Melgund Township, specifically mapping hunting grounds, trapping lines, and recreational trail networks used by the local community.
Require the Proponent to establish a legally binding 'Melgund Infrastructure and Mitigation Fund' to address the long-term costs of road maintenance, infrastructure upgrades, and community service pressures resulting from the project.
Establish a baseline acoustic monitoring program in the residential areas of Dyment and Borups Corners to measure current ambient noise levels prior to construction and industrialization.
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.