Section Synopsis
Pages: 445-448This document summarizes public feedback from eight engagement sessions regarding the NWMO's proposed Deep Geological Repository (DGR) project. The feedback is categorized into themes including human health and safety, social and community infrastructure, environmental protection, economic conditions, project components, and the regulatory process. Key concerns involve transportation safety on Highway 17, potential radiation and water contamination, the strain on local healthcare and infrastructure, and the long-term management of intermediate-level waste. Participants also emphasized the need for economic growth, youth training, and more accessible engagement methods that account for community perceptions alongside technical data.
Community Assessment Narrative
The provided text offers a comprehensive catalog of community concerns, yet it reveals a significant tension between the proponent's technical framework and the public's lived experience. A primary ethical concern is the 'trust gap' regarding radiation and water safety; the text acknowledges that medical and safety assurances are met with skepticism, suggesting that the proponent's current communication strategy may be overly reliant on technical jargon rather than relational transparency. Furthermore, the mention of 'intermediate-level waste' and 'used fuel from other countries' introduces a potential scope-creep issue that could undermine community consent if not addressed with absolute clarity. The document honestly reports frustrations with past engagement methods, such as the digital divide created by desktop-only surveys, which indicates a historical lack of inclusivity in the consultation process.
There is a notable bias toward 'economic growth' as an 'imperative' that regulatory efforts 'must align with.' This phrasing suggests a potential attempt to prioritize economic outcomes over environmental or social precautionary principles. Additionally, the ambiguity surrounding the 'pipeline' and the 'Lake Malagon quarry' suggests that the project's physical footprint and secondary impacts are not yet fully defined or disclosed. The reliance on 'perception-based impacts' as a category of concern highlights a critical methodological gap: the proponent appears to struggle with integrating qualitative social data into a traditionally quantitative regulatory process. Overall, while the report is structured and clear, it underscores a community that feels vulnerable to infrastructure strain and environmental risk, requiring more than just 'information-sharing' to reach a state of informed support.
Corrective Measures & Recommendations
The proponent should immediately publish a definitive policy framework regarding the inventory of the repository, specifically addressing the concerns about intermediate-level waste and foreign nuclear fuel. This framework must clarify whether the site is strictly for domestic used fuel or if the project scope includes other waste streams. Providing this clarity will mitigate the risk of 'scope creep' and address the community's fear of the site becoming a global waste hub, which is essential for maintaining the integrity of the social license to operate.
To address the identified strain on local health and emergency services, the proponent must move beyond 'anticipating' impacts and commit to a co-developed Socio-Economic Mitigation Plan with the Township of Ignace and the City of Dryden. This plan should include specific financial or infrastructure commitments to expand healthcare capacity and emergency response services prior to the commencement of the construction phase. By formalizing these supports, the proponent can demonstrate a proactive approach to community wellbeing that transcends simple data collection and addresses the tangible fears of residents regarding service degradation.
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 issues identified in the IAAC Summary of Issues (SOI) published on February 16, 2026. Specifically, the community’s concern regarding the "ambiguity of intermediate-level waste and potential for foreign fuel" directly supports the IAAC’s identified issue under Other Key Issues Related to the Federal Undertaking, which notes a "need for more information on the type of waste that would be accepted" and the "potential for future project scope modifications." The community’s call for a legally binding inventory validates the IAAC’s concern regarding the transparency of the project’s purpose and the potential for "scope creep" over the repository's long lifespan.
In the realm of socio-economic impacts, Melgund Township’s focus on "health system impacts and infrastructure capacity" aligns closely with the IAAC’s section on Infrastructure and Services. The IAAC flags the "effects of temporary workers on services" and the "adequacy of mitigation measures," which mirrors the community’s observation that current medical and emergency services are already strained. Furthermore, the community’s specific concern regarding "acid rock leachate" and "lake temperature changes" provides localized evidence for the IAAC’s broader environmental categories, specifically Geochemical behaviour of rock material (acid rock drainage) and Fish and Fish Habitat (water quality changes).
A notable gap exists regarding the methodology of engagement. While the IAAC’s Annex A mentions the need for "clear, accessible, plain-language, and inclusive communications," the Melgund Township assessment identifies a specific digital divide. The community findings highlight that a reliance on "desktop-based surveys" and digital-only platforms excludes significant portions of the local population. This suggests that while the IAAC has flagged engagement as a general issue, the community assessment provides a necessary corrective by identifying the specific "digital barriers" that must be removed to ensure the "meaningful engagement" the Agency requires.
Recommendations
The working group recommendations emphasize the necessity of a definitive policy framework regarding the repository’s inventory. By demanding a clear statement on the exclusion of foreign nuclear fuel and a strict definition of waste streams, these recommendations provide a concrete mechanism to address the IAAC’s concerns regarding "Future modifications for accepted waste." Establishing this framework early in the process is essential for maintaining the social license to operate and ensures that the project scope remains within the boundaries evaluated during the impact assessment, preventing unassessed risks from emerging in later decades.
Furthermore, the recommendation for a co-developed Socio-Economic Mitigation Plan with neighboring municipalities directly addresses the IAAC’s identified risks regarding "Emergency preparedness" and "Future service & infrastructure planning." Rather than relying on the proponent’s internal projections, the community recommends a collaborative approach that includes specific financial commitments for healthcare and emergency services prior to construction. This proactive strategy ensures that the "adequacy of mitigation measures" questioned by the IAAC is addressed through tangible infrastructure expansion, thereby protecting the quality of life for current residents and ensuring the region can safely manage the influx of a temporary workforce.
Key Claims
Underlying Assumptions
Critical Observations & Gaps
Analysis Table| Issue Identified | Implication | Information Required |
|---|---|---|
| Ambiguity regarding the permanent storage of intermediate-level waste and potential for foreign fuel. | If the site accepts intermediate-level waste or foreign waste, the environmental and safety risk profiles change significantly. | A clear, legally binding inventory list and a policy statement on the origin of waste. |
| Health system impacts and infrastructure capacity. | Increased demand on already strained medical and emergency services could lead to a decline in the quality of life for current residents. | A baseline study of current service capacity and a detailed mitigation/funding plan for service expansion. |
| Potential for acid rock leachate and lake temperature changes. | Acid rock leachate and thermal changes in lakes could cause long-term damage to local fisheries and ecosystems. | Geochemical analysis of excavated rock and thermal modeling for nearby aquatic environments. |
| Engagement accessibility and reliance on desktop-based surveys. | Relying on digital-only engagement excludes segments of the population, leading to biased feedback and community resentment. | A multi-modal engagement strategy including mail, radio, and in-person sessions without digital barriers. |
Working Group Recommendations
Challenge the Proponent to demonstrate 100% self-sufficiency for emergency response (Fire, EMS, and Police) for the project site and associated traffic incidents on Highway 17 and Dyment Road.
Require the Proponent to define the specific waste inventory as a Valued Component (VC) and provide a definitive policy statement on the permanent vs. temporary status of intermediate-level waste.
Challenge the Proponent to provide a site-specific Forest Fire Mitigation and Response Plan that demonstrates zero reliance on local municipal fire services.
Request a comprehensive baseline assessment of Dyment Road and adjacent routes, evaluating their current condition and capacity to handle heavy project traffic without compromising resident safety.
Demand a detailed geochemical analysis of excavated rock and a comprehensive baseline study of the local watershed, specifically focusing on Lake Malagon and the potential for acid rock leachate.
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.