Demand the inclusion of 'Informal Recreational and Subsistence Land Use' as a specific Valued Component (VC), requiring the mapping of all 'unofficial' trails, hunting blinds, and gathering areas used by Melgund residents.
Strategic Rationale
"The Proponent's submission characterizes land use at the Revell site as 'minimal' and dismisses local trails as 'unofficial.' This narrative devalues the subsistence and recreational way of life for residents of Melgund and Dyment who have used these Crown lands for generations for hunting, trapping, and snowmobiling. By excluding these 'unofficial' uses from formal VCs, the Proponent risks ignoring the primary social and cultural impact on the immediate fence-line community. Formally recognizing these uses as VCs allows for the development of 'no-net-loss' mitigation strategies, such as permanent trail bypasses and guaranteed access points. This recommendation improves the project's social license by demonstrating respect for local northern identity and ensures that the 'quiet enjoyment' of the land is not subordinated to the economic interests of distant municipalities. The expected result is a mitigation plan that preserves the recreational integrity of the Melgund area."
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.