Validate that impacts on traditional land and resource use will be assessed as physical and biological changes to the environment, rather than being limited to 'perceived risks' or 'changes in access'.
Strategic Rationale
The Proponent's submission frames impacts on land and water primarily as 'perceived risks' or 'access' issues. For the residents of Melgund and surrounding traditional territories, the protection of groundwater and terrestrial wildlife is a physical necessity, not just a matter of perception. Treating these as social perceptions risks excluding them from rigorous technical mitigation and monitoring. The Proponent must demonstrate how ecological integrity will be maintained to ensure the long-term safety of the local environment. By elevating these to physical Valued Components, the Proponent can provide the technical assurance required to build trust with local land users.
Source Context
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.