Section Synopsis
Pages: i-iiThe NWMO's 'Acknowledgment of Truths' outlines their commitment to Indigenous reconciliation, specifically recognizing the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation (WLON) as willing hosts for the Deep Geological Repository. The document acknowledges that the project is being imposed through federal legislation and will impact traditional land use, access, and perceived safety. It further commits to upholding Section 35 rights, addressing the Calls for Justice regarding Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), and respecting Indigenous data sovereignty and traditional values throughout the project's lifecycle.
Community Assessment Narrative
This document is a prime example of high-level 'corporate-social-responsibility' speak that uses broad, aspirational language to gloss over the gritty realities of living next to a nuclear waste site. While the focus on Reconciliation and WLON is necessary, the NWMO uses this 'learning journey' narrative to create a moral shield, conveniently ignoring the immediate non-Indigenous neighbors in Melgund Township, Dyment, and Borups Corners who are less than 10km from the Revell site. By framing the impacts primarily through the lens of 'perceived risks' and 'Indigenous identity,' the NWMO subtly suggests that the concerns of the local population are either psychological or purely cultural, rather than technical or physical. The phrase 'willing and informed hosts' is used as a definitive stamp of approval, yet it masks the deep divisions and unanswered questions regarding long-term safety that persist in the actual cafes and community halls of the region.
Impacts on Local Recreation: The NWMO's admission that the project will cause 'changes in access' is a major red flag for those of us in Melgund. This is corporate shorthand for gates, fences, and 'No Trespassing' signs on Crown land we have used for generations. Our hunting grounds and the network of snowmobile and ATV trails around the Revell site are directly in the crosshairs. If 'access' is restricted, the pressure on remaining lands will increase, potentially ruining the quiet acoustic environment we value. Furthermore, the mention of MMIWG Call for Justice 13—which specifically addresses the risks associated with 'man camps' in extractive industries—confirms our fears about a large, transient workforce. This influx could easily overwhelm the Dyment Recreation Hall and crowd out locals from traditional camping and fishing spots, forever altering the social fabric of our small community.
Corrective Measures & Recommendations
The NWMO must move beyond 'acknowledgments' and provide a concrete 'Neighbor Impact Mitigation Plan' specifically for the unincorporated communities of Melgund, Dyment, and Borups Corners. This plan should include legally binding guarantees that local residents will maintain access to existing recreational trails and water bodies, or be provided with equivalent high-quality alternatives. They must also clarify what 'changes in access' means with a detailed map of proposed closures versus open areas.
To address the 'perceived risks' mentioned in the text, the NWMO should establish a Property Value Protection Program and a Community Health Monitoring initiative that is independent of their own 'learning journey.' If they are truly committed to the MMIWG Calls for Justice, they must provide specific funding and infrastructure support for the Dyment Recreation Hall to ensure it remains a safe, local-first space that is not swallowed up by the social pressures of a massive industrial workforce.
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 demonstrate a high degree of alignment with the "Summary of Issues" (SOI) published by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) on February 16, 2026. Specifically, the community’s concern regarding the "Exclusion of local non-Indigenous community stakeholders" aligns with the IAAC’s section on Public Engagement and Communication, which emphasizes the need for ongoing engagement to ensure the concerns of those "proximate and downstream of the project" are meaningfully addressed. While the NWMO’s documentation focuses heavily on Indigenous reconciliation, the IAAC SOI validates the township’s position that all regional communities, including those outside formal hosting agreements, must be considered in the distribution of benefits and the assessment of social impacts.
The township’s observations regarding the "Potential for increased crime, social strain, and pressure on local volunteer services" are directly supported by the IAAC SOI under the theme of Infrastructure and Services. The Agency specifically flags "potential increases in gender-based violence" and "increased risks to vulnerable populations" resulting from an influx of temporary workers. This validates the community’s concern regarding the NWMO’s reference to MMIWG Call 13 and the potential "boomtown" effects on small, unincorporated settlements like Dyment and Borups Corners. Furthermore, the community’s demand for a detailed land-use map to address "vague mentions of changes in access" aligns perfectly with the IAAC’s identified need for information on Socio-economic impacts to land use, including impacts on recreation, hunting, forestry, and existing roads.
A significant alignment is also found in the requirement for baseline data. Melgund Township’s call for a "peer-reviewed socio-economic baseline" is echoed in the IAAC SOI under Socio-Economic Conditions, which notes the "need for community-led baseline data collection." The community’s concern that decisions are being made on an "Initial Project Description" that lacks full demographic characterization is a gap also recognized by the IAAC, which highlights "uncertainty due to limited or inadequate baseline data" across health, social, and economic sectors. Additionally, the community’s request for a "Property Value Protection Program" is directly reflected in the IAAC’s inclusion of "Economic impact on property value" as a key issue for nearby residents.
Recommendations
The working group recommendations focus on the necessity of a concrete "Neighbor Impact Mitigation Plan" that moves beyond symbolic acknowledgments to provide legally binding protections for the residents of Melgund, Dyment, and Borups Corners. These recommendations are designed to directly address the "Socio-economic effects" and "Infrastructure and Services" issues identified in the IAAC Summary of Issues. By requiring the NWMO to provide detailed mapping of exclusion zones and guaranteed access to recreational lands, the community is seeking to mitigate the "Socio-economic impacts to land use" that the IAAC has flagged as a primary concern for the region.
Furthermore, the recommendation to establish an independent "Community Health Monitoring" initiative and a "Property Value Protection Program" serves to address the "Psychosocial health impacts" and "Economic impacts from public perception" noted in the SOI. These community-led recommendations ensure that the "Distribution of economic benefits" is not just about employment, but about safeguarding the existing quality of life and financial security of the most proximate neighbors. Finally, the call for specific infrastructure funding for the Dyment Recreation Hall provides a practical solution to the IAAC’s concern regarding the "adequacy of mitigation measures" for the strain placed on local services by a massive industrial workforce.
Key Claims
Underlying Assumptions
Critical Observations & Gaps
Analysis Table| Issue Identified | Implication | Information Required |
|---|---|---|
| Exclusion of local non-Indigenous community stakeholders in the 'Truth' acknowledgment. | The focus on WLON as the 'most proximate' group ignores the physical proximity of Melgund residents who live within 10km of the site. | Explicit recognition of the residents of Melgund/Dyment as impacted neighbors. |
| Vague mention of 'changes in access' without defining the geographic extent of exclusion zones. | Loss of access to Crown land for hunting, fishing, and wood harvesting. | A detailed land-use map showing exactly where public access will be restricted. |
| Potential for increased crime, social strain, and pressure on local volunteer services like the Dyment Recreation Hall. | The reference to MMIWG Call 13 suggests the NWMO anticipates the 'boomtown' effects and safety risks associated with large industrial work camps. | A specific social management plan for the workforce that includes protections for local women and girls in nearby townships. |
| Decisions are being made based on an 'Initial Project Description' that lacks full demographic and cultural characterization. | The NWMO admits their current data on local populations is incomplete. | A commitment to pause development until a full, peer-reviewed socio-economic baseline of the district is completed. |
Working Group Recommendations
Challenge the Proponent to demonstrate 100% self-sufficiency for emergency medical, fire, and security services for the Project and its associated workforce, specifically addressing the safety risks identified in the filing's reference to MMIWG Call for Justice 13.
Request the Proponent conduct a comprehensive socio-economic and demographic baseline study specifically for the unincorporated communities of Melgund, Dyment, and Borups Corners to rectify the admitted data deficiencies in the Initial Project Description.
Demand a detailed spatial analysis and mapping of all proposed 'changes in access' to Crown lands, identifying specific exclusion zones and their impact on local non-Indigenous land use such as wood harvesting, hunting, and recreation.
Require the Proponent to develop a specific 'Neighbor Impact Mitigation Plan' for Melgund that addresses the 'perceived risks' and social stigma mentioned in the filing, including a Property Value Protection Program.
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.