Section Synopsis
Pages: 30-31The document outlines the proposed location for the Deep Geological Repository (DGR) at the Revell Site, situated on Crown land within the Wabigoon and Dryden Forest Management Units. It specifies the site's proximity to various communities, noting it is approximately 10 km from Borups Corners and 13 km from Dyment. The NWMO indicates plans to acquire this land from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and highlights the site's intersection with existing highway, hydro, and rail infrastructure.
Community Assessment Narrative
The NWMO’s description of the Revell Site is a classic example of 'corporate distancing.' By listing Borups Corners and Dyment as mere bullet points with kilometer markers, they attempt to sanitize the reality that this massive nuclear project is essentially in our backyard. For those of us in Melgund Township, 10 kilometers isn't a 'buffer zone'—it's the distance of a short morning drive. The text uses clinical language like 'arrangement is planned to be established' to describe the takeover of Crown land, glossing over the fact that public land, which we currently use and value, is being handed over to a private entity for the permanent storage of hazardous waste. The mention of 'Kenora Mining Division' and 'Forest Management Units' frames our home as a resource extraction zone rather than a living community.
Impacts on Local Recreation: The proposed location sits directly within the Wabigoon and Dryden Forest Management Units, which are the lifeblood of our local lifestyle. The document completely fails to address how the 'transfer of Crown lands' will result in the closure of access roads and trails used for hunting, fishing, and snowmobiling. We rely on these lands for our way of life. Furthermore, the influx of a temporary workforce and the industrialization of the Revell Site threaten the quiet acoustic environment that residents of Dyment and Borups Corners cherish. There is a significant concern that the Dyment Recreation Hall, our primary social hub, will be impacted by the social shift or used as a staging ground for 'community engagement' that ignores our actual concerns about land access. If these Crown lands are fenced off, the traditional ATV and snowmobile loops that connect our communities will be severed, and the 'stigma' of the DGR will likely deter the outdoor tourism that supports our local economy.
Corrective Measures & Recommendations
The NWMO must immediately move beyond 'plain language summaries' and provide a detailed Melgund Township Impact Mitigation Plan. This plan must include legally binding guarantees that existing snowmobile and ATV trail networks will be rerouted or maintained, and that access to traditional hunting and fishing grounds will not be restricted outside of the immediate 'footprint' of the facility. We also demand a specific 'Acoustic and Visual Buffer Study' that accounts for the elevation and topography between the Revell Site and Borups Corners to ensure our peace and quiet are not destroyed by 24/7 construction and operation.
Furthermore, the proponent should provide direct socio-economic investments into the Melgund area, specifically targeted at the Dyment Recreation Hall and local infrastructure. If our community is to bear the highest proximity risk, we should see direct benefits that go beyond vague promises of 'regional growth.' This includes upgrading local emergency services and ensuring that Highway 17 improvements prioritize the safety of local commuters who will now be sharing the road with heavy nuclear waste transport and construction traffic.
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 Melgund Township community findings show a high degree of alignment with the "Socio-Economic Conditions" and "Infrastructure and Services" themes identified in the IAAC Summary of Issues (SOI). Specifically, the Township’s concern regarding the lack of community-specific impact analysis for the closest non-Indigenous neighbors directly supports the IAAC’s identified need for "community-led baseline data collection" and the concern that economic benefits may not be "equitably shared among all affected regional communities, including those outside hosting agreement areas." By identifying as a high-proximity stakeholder that is currently treated as a "data point" rather than a partner, Melgund Township provides a concrete example of the "distribution of economic benefits" issue flagged by the Agency.
Regarding land use and infrastructure, there is a clear validation of the IAAC’s "Socio-economic impacts to land use" category. Melgund’s demand for legally binding guarantees for snowmobile and ATV trail rerouting and continued access to Forest Management Units aligns perfectly with the IAAC’s focus on "recreation, tourism, fishing, hunting... and existing roads." Furthermore, the Township’s recommendation for Highway 17 safety improvements and emergency service upgrades reinforces the IAAC’s concerns under "Transportation service and infrastructure preparedness and demand," which highlights the strain on rural hospitals, fire, and police services.
A notable gap exists regarding the technical process of land acquisition. Melgund Township has flagged the "legal and regulatory process of Crown land alienation" as a major hurdle and a point of vagueness in the proponent’s description. While the IAAC SOI covers the effects of land use changes, it does not explicitly address the community’s concern regarding the transparency of the "planned arrangement" between the NWMO and the Ministry of Natural Resources. Additionally, Melgund’s specific request for an "Acoustic and Visual Buffer Study" based on local topography provides a more granular requirement than the IAAC’s broader mentions of "noise" and "monitoring of effects during construction," suggesting the community is seeking a higher level of technical accountability than the general SOI currently dictates.
Key Claims
Underlying Assumptions
Critical Observations & Gaps
Analysis Table| Issue Identified | Implication | Information Required |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of community-specific impact analysis for the closest non-Indigenous neighbors. | Listing Borups Corners and Dyment as 'communities' without assessing their specific needs suggests they are being treated as data points rather than stakeholders. | A dedicated socio-economic impact study for Melgund Township. |
| Loss of public access to Forest Management Units. | The transfer of Crown land to a private/federal project removes public access for recreation and traditional use. | A land-use plan showing exactly which trails and areas will be restricted or closed. |
| Vagueness regarding the legal and regulatory process of Crown land alienation. | The 'planned arrangement' for land transfer is a major hurdle that is presented as a simple administrative step. | Disclosure of the terms and conditions being discussed with the Ministry of Natural Resources. |
Working Group Recommendations
Challenge the Proponent to demonstrate 100% self-sufficiency for emergency response (fire, medical, and hazardous material spills) at the Revell Site and along the immediate Highway 17 corridor serving Borups Corners and Dyment.
Request a comprehensive mapping and baseline study of all existing informal and formal trails, hunting grounds, and resource access points within the Wabigoon and Dryden Forest Management Units that will be affected by the planned Crown land transfer.
Demand the inclusion of 'Local Commuter Safety and Highway 17 Integrity' as a specific Valued Component (VC) in the Impact Statement, focusing on the 15km radius around the project centroid.
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.