Challenge the characterization of residual effects on wetlands as 'negligible' and demand a site-specific 'No Net Loss' plan for the 17% of the site identified as swamp and fen.
Strategic Rationale
"The Proponent's submission justifies local wetland destruction by citing regional abundance in Northern Ontario, claiming that wetland loss has not reached 'critical levels' in the region. This approach ignores the specific ecological functions of the site-specific wetlands in Melgund. There is a logical contradiction in the Initial Project Description where the likelihood of effect is rated as 'high' (due to certain clearing) but the degree is 'negligible.' For the Melgund area, these wetlands are critical for local drainage and biodiversity. The expected result is a formal commitment to compensatory mitigation that ensures local ecological integrity is maintained, rather than relying on broad regional statistics to dismiss local loss. This is an opportunity for the Proponent to align with modern 'No Net Loss' standards."
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.