Section Synopsis
Pages: 26-27The document outlines the operational capacity and production processes for the Used Fuel Processing Plant (UFPP) over a 50-year lifespan. It estimates the processing of 5.9 million fuel bundles, resulting in the placement of approximately 2,500 used fuel containers (UFCs) annually into the repository. The process includes receiving up to five transportation packages daily, automated welding and copper coating, and the on-site manufacturing of bentonite buffer boxes for underground emplacement.
Community Assessment Narrative
The NWMO's description of the UFPP operations is a masterclass in 'corporate speak,' using terms like 'systematically,' 'precisely,' and 'robust oversight' to mask what is essentially a massive industrial factory being dropped into the middle of the Revell forest. For those of us in Melgund and Borups Corners, the claim of only 'five certified transportation packages' per day is a glossy generalization that ignores the hundreds of other vehicle movements required for staff, bentonite delivery, and the 'on-site manufacturing' of buffer boxes. This isn't just a quiet repository; it is a 24/7 industrial zone less than 10km from our front doors. The mention of 'temporary dry storage' is particularly concerning to locals, as 'temporary' in the nuclear industry often spans decades, potentially turning our backyard into a surface-level parking lot for radioactive waste while they wait for the underground lines to catch up. Impacts on Local Recreation: The proposed scale of this operation poses a direct threat to the traditional way of life in Melgund Township. The Revell site is currently used for hunting and is a gateway to fishing spots that residents have accessed for generations. The 'on-site manufacturing' and 'multiple processing lines' will create a constant acoustic footprint, likely driving away the moose and deer populations that local hunters rely on. Furthermore, the increased heavy traffic on Highway 17 will make transporting ATVs and snowmobiles to our usual trailheads significantly more dangerous. There is a deep-seated fear that the Dyment Recreation Hall, currently our community's social heart, will be overshadowed by the influx of a transient workforce, and that our local trails will be severed or restricted by 'security perimeters' that the NWMO has yet to fully map out for us.
Corrective Measures & Recommendations
The proponent must provide a comprehensive traffic impact study that includes all support vehicles, not just the five daily waste packages. Melgund residents need to know the true volume of gravel, bentonite, and copper trucks that will be sharing Highway 17 with our school buses and personal vehicles. We demand a binding agreement that ensures zero net loss of access to crown lands for hunting, fishing, and motorized recreation, including the maintenance of existing ATV and snowmobile trail connectivity around the Revell site. Additionally, the NWMO should commit to a long-term endowment for the Dyment Recreation Hall to ensure it remains a community-controlled space, rather than a corporate annex. They must also define the exact duration and maximum capacity of the 'temporary dry storage' to prevent it from becoming a de facto surface dump if underground operations are delayed.
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 show a high degree of alignment with the "Summary of Issues" (SOI) published by the IAAC, particularly regarding the socio-economic and transportation impacts of the Revell site. The Township’s concern that the proponent’s focus on "five packages a day" obscures the true scale of industrial traffic is directly supported by the IAAC’s "Transportation" section. The SOI explicitly states that the assessment must include the movement of workers and construction materials, validating the community’s demand for a full traffic count that includes gravel, bentonite, and copper transport on Highway 17.
There is also strong alignment regarding land use and community well-being. The Township’s concerns about losing access to Crown lands for hunting, fishing, and motorized recreation are mirrored in the IAAC’s "Socio-economic impacts to land use" section, which flags the need for information on how the project affects recreation, hunting, and existing roads. Furthermore, the community’s recommendation for a long-term endowment for the Dyment Recreation Hall aligns with the IAAC’s focus on "Social cohesion and community wellbeing" and the "Distribution of economic benefits," though the community provides a much more specific local mitigation strategy than the Agency’s high-level document.
A critical technical alignment exists regarding the Used Fuel Processing Plant (UFPP) and "temporary dry storage." The community’s fear that temporary storage could become a "de facto surface dump" is reflected in the IAAC’s "Other Key Issues" section, specifically under "Future modifications for accepted waste" and "Alternative means." The IAAC identifies the UFPP as a source of concern for accidents and malfunctions, which supports Melgund’s request for strict limits on the volume and duration of surface waste storage.
However, a minor gap exists in the level of industrial detail. While the IAAC SOI covers general environmental effects like noise and air quality, Melgund Township specifically identifies the "buffer box factory" and on-site concrete manufacturing as distinct sources of dust and runoff. The community’s analysis highlights a specific industrial component—the manufacturing of bentonite buffer boxes—that requires more granular scrutiny than the general "construction effects" currently outlined in the IAAC’s "Physical and Biological Environment" section. This suggests the community is looking for a more detailed assessment of the secondary industrial processes than the SOI currently emphasizes.
Key Claims
Underlying Assumptions
Critical Observations & Gaps
Analysis Table| Issue Identified | Implication | Information Required |
|---|---|---|
| The focus on 'five packages a day' obscures the total industrial traffic volume. | Increased industrial noise and traffic will degrade the rural character of Melgund and Borups Corners. | A full traffic count including construction, manufacturing supplies, and workforce commuting. |
| Ambiguity regarding the scale and duration of 'temporary dry storage'. | Surface storage of nuclear waste is more vulnerable than deep disposal. | Specific limits on the volume of waste allowed on the surface at any one time. |
| The environmental impact of the manufacturing plant is not detailed. | On-site manufacturing of concrete and bentonite boxes creates dust, runoff, and noise. | An assessment of the air quality and noise impacts from the buffer box factory. |
| No mention of land use restrictions or security perimeters around the UFPP. | Local residents may lose access to traditional lands. | A map showing exactly which areas will be fenced off and closed to the public. |
Working Group Recommendations
Challenge the Proponent to demonstrate 100% on-site self-sufficiency for industrial fire, medical, and hazmat response related to the 'welding,' 'copper coating,' and 'temporary dry storage' operations described.
Request a comprehensive traffic inventory that quantifies the logistics for 'sealing materials and buffer boxes manufactured on site,' distinct from the cited 'five certified transportation packages each day.'
Require the inclusion of 'Non-Radiological Air Quality' (specifically particulate matter from bentonite and concrete production) as a distinct Valued Component, based on the plan for 'sealing materials and buffer boxes manufactured on site.'
Request specific operational constraints and maximum capacity limits for the 'temporary dry storage' area to ensure it does not function as a long-term surface facility.
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.