Section Synopsis
Pages: vi-viiThe NWMO has finalized the selection of the Revell site within the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation and Ignace area after a 14-year process. The decision is framed as being based on scientific confidence in safety and community consent, formalized through hosting agreements with the Township of Ignace and Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation. The project is now moving into the regulatory phase, with promises of continued engagement with other potentially affected groups and land users.
Community Assessment Narrative
This summary document is a masterclass in 'corporate speak,' using terms like 'consent-based' and 'rigorous scientific study' to gloss over the fact that those of us in Melgund Township—who live less than 10km from the proposed Revell site—have been largely sidelined. While the NWMO touts 'collaboration with communities,' they define 'community' narrowly to include only the official host signatories. For residents in Dyment and Borups Corners, the 'willingness' of a town council 40km away in Ignace does little to address the reality of living on the doorstep of a nuclear repository. The text uses 'confidence' as a shield against technical skepticism, yet provides no specifics on how our daily lives, property values, or the quiet character of our township will be protected from the inevitable industrialization of our backyard.
Impacts on Local Recreation: The proposed DGR site sits directly atop lands used for generations by Melgund residents for hunting, fishing, and trapping. The document's vague mention of 'land users' fails to account for the potential loss of access to Crown land trails used for snowmobiling and ATVs. There is a profound silence regarding the acoustic environment; the peace we enjoy at the Dyment Recreation Hall and surrounding camps is threatened by years of heavy construction noise and increased transport traffic. If the Revell site becomes a restricted industrial zone, the 'stigma' of nuclear waste could permanently deter the seasonal visitors who support our local economy and use our recreational facilities. The NWMO must clarify if our traditional berry-picking spots and fishing holes will be fenced off or monitored to the point of making recreation feel like a security exercise.
Corrective Measures & Recommendations
The NWMO must immediately move beyond 'engagement' and establish a formal 'Neighboring Community Agreement' specifically for Melgund Township and the residents of Dyment/Borups Corners. This agreement should include legally binding protections for property values, guaranteed funding for the Dyment Recreation Hall to serve as an independent monitoring hub, and a clear 'No-Go' zone for heavy machinery during peak hunting and recreational seasons. We are the ones who will hear the blasts and see the dust; we deserve more than a bullet point in an engagement strategy.
Furthermore, the NWMO must release a detailed, localized traffic and noise mitigation plan that specifically addresses the Highway 17 corridor near our homes. This plan needs to be reviewed by a third-party expert chosen by Melgund residents, not the NWMO. Transparency is currently lacking, especially regarding the 'confidential' agreement with WLON. If this project is truly 'consent-based,' that consent must extend to the people living closest to the fence line, not just those receiving the hosting fees.
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 IAAC, particularly regarding the socio-economic and transparency gaps in the current project description. The Township’s concern regarding its exclusion from formal hosting status and the resulting disproportionate distribution of risks versus benefits is directly mirrored in the IAAC’s Socio-Economic Conditions section. Specifically, the IAAC identifies the "Distribution of economic benefits for all regional communities" as a key issue, noting concerns that benefits may not be equitably shared with communities outside of formal hosting agreement areas. Melgund’s observation that it is treated as the "interested public" rather than a "host neighbor" validates the Agency’s focus on the potential for economic and social hardships in non-hosting but proximate locales.
Furthermore, Melgund’s demand for localized environmental data and protections for property values aligns with several specific themes in the SOI. The IAAC’s section on "Economic impact on property value" confirms that the impact on homes and land for nearby residents is a priority concern for the federal assessment. Additionally, the Township’s focus on the Highway 17 corridor and the physical disturbances of construction (noise and blasting) is supported by the IAAC’s "Monitoring of effects during construction and operation" and "Transportation" sections, which highlight the need for more information on blasting impacts and the capacity of existing infrastructure to handle increased project demand.
A significant point of validation occurs regarding the transparency of the process. Melgund’s concern over the confidentiality of the WLON Hosting Agreement and the lack of localized data for the 10km radius around the Revell site supports the IAAC’s call for "Public Engagement and Communication" that is "clear, accessible, plain-language, and inclusive." The Township’s finding that "confidentiality breeds distrust" reinforces the IAAC’s requirement for the proponent to address the transparency of historic engagement and provide better information on long-term impacts to those most proximate to the project.
Recommendations
The working group recommendations emphasize the necessity of transitioning from general "engagement" to a legally binding "Neighboring Community Agreement." This recommendation is designed to directly address the IAAC-identified issue of inequitable benefit distribution. By establishing formal recognition for Melgund Township and the residents of Dyment/Borups Corners, the NWMO can provide the "environmental justice" and "social cohesion" protections that the IAAC has flagged as currently lacking. This agreement should serve as the mechanism to formalize property value protections and ensure that the "proximity risks" borne by Melgund are offset by direct, guaranteed economic support.
To address the IAAC’s concerns regarding "Monitoring and institutional control" and "community-led baseline data collection," it is recommended that the NWMO fund the Dyment Recreation Hall as an independent, community-led monitoring hub. This would provide the "third-party expert" oversight requested by residents, ensuring that data regarding noise, traffic, and environmental changes are verified by the community rather than the proponent alone. These recommendations provide a concrete pathway for the NWMO to resolve the "high uncertainty" and "psychosocial health impacts" identified in the SOI by granting the closest neighbors the agency and resources required to safely coexist with the project.
Key Claims
Underlying Assumptions
Critical Observations & Gaps
Analysis Table| Issue Identified | Implication | Information Required |
|---|---|---|
| Exclusion of Melgund Township from formal hosting status despite proximity. | Melgund residents are treated as 'interested public' rather than 'host neighbors,' leading to a lack of agency and protection. | A formal recognition of Melgund as a primary impacted community with veto or mitigation powers. |
| Disproportionate distribution of benefits vs. risks. | Ignace receives the financial 'capacity building' while Melgund bears the proximity risks without direct compensation. | Direct economic benefit agreements for the Dyment/Borups Corners area. |
| Glossy generalizations regarding environmental suitability. | The 'confidence in safety' claim is a generalization that doesn't address local water table or noise concerns. | Localized environmental impact data specifically for the 10km radius around the Revell site. |
| Confidentiality of the WLON Hosting Agreement. | Confidentiality breeds distrust in a process that claims to be transparent and 'informed.' | Public disclosure of any clauses that impact land use or environmental monitoring for the broader region. |
Working Group Recommendations
Challenge the Proponent to demonstrate 100% self-sufficiency for emergency response—including fire, medical, and hazardous material spills—at the Revell site and along the immediate transport corridor, rather than relying on regional hubs.
Request the formal inclusion of 'Unorganized Territory Socio-Economic Stability' as a Valued Component (VC) to specifically measure impacts on property values and community cohesion in Melgund.
Demand the disclosure of localized groundwater and acoustic baseline data specifically for the 10km radius surrounding the Revell site, including connectivity studies to Melgund Township aquifers.
Request a detailed assessment of alternative site access routes and transportation schedules that minimize heavy industrial traffic through the Highway 17 corridor during peak local recreation and school bus hours.
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.