About the Project
The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) is proposing a new underground deep geological repository to safely contain and isolate used nuclear fuel. Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation (WLON) and the Township of Ignace have been identified as the host communities for the proposed project, located 21 kilometres southeast of WLON and 43 kilometres northwest of the Town of Ignace, Ontario, along Highway 17.
The DGR would provide permanent storage for roughly 5.9 million bundles of used nuclear fuel, with the project spanning around 160 years, including site preparation, construction, operation, and closure monitoring. The assessment of the project is being conducted in collaboration with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.
Submission Information
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Submission Phase Initial Project Description Review
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Agency Impact Assessment Agency of Canada
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Host Communities Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation & Township of Ignace
Participate in the Process
Participate in the federal Impact Assessment for the Deep Geological Repository (DGR) for Canada’s Used Nuclear Fuel Project (Project 88774) by reviewing the project details and submitting your comments to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC).
This public consultation process is your opportunity to shape decisions about environmental protection, community well-being, Indigenous rights, long-term nuclear waste management, and sustainable development in Canada. By reading the project documentation and sharing informed feedback, you help strengthen transparency, accountability, and evidence-based decision-making.
Visit the official IAAC project page to learn more and ensure your voice is included in Canada’s integrated impact assessment process.
Key Insights
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The 30 day window imposed by the Government of Canada is insufficient to effectively understand and publicly comment on a project of this scale.
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The smallest/closest most impacted communities should not be left out of a process that impacts them the most.
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There are many opportunities for the region, and challenges which must be addressed by the proponent and IAAC.
What Are People Saying about the DGR Project?
We have been closely monitoring the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) Registry, analyzing the diverse range of public comments submitted regarding Project 88774. Our team has reviewed and summarized these submissions to provide a clear, consolidated view of public sentiment, key concerns, and community feedback. This resource offers a transparent look at what stakeholders and residents are actually saying about the proposed Deep Geological Repository.
Living Next Door to Project 88774: What are the impacts of the NWMO Deep Geological Repository for Nuclear Waste Fuel on Melgund Township?
Melgund Township, along with its two unorganized communities of Dyment and Borups Corners, is the closest jurisdiction to the proposed Deep Geological Repository site. Located approximately 13 kilometres and 10 kilometres respectively from the site, these communities are nearer in proximity than any other municipality or organized community and therefore stand to experience the most direct and sustained impacts of this $26-billion, 160+ year intergenerational project—one of the largest infrastructure and nation-building initiatives in Canadian history.
Given this proximity, the social, environmental, economic, and governance implications for our residents are immediate and long term. This platform was created to help document, understand, and communicate the issues, potential impacts, and emerging opportunities associated with the project, while ensuring that the voices and lived realities of Melgund Township, Dyment, and Borups Corners are clearly reflected within the federal impact assessment process.
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.