Understanding the Regulatory Scope of the Proposed Nuclear Waste Repository
This article is part of a series exploring the views and perspectives of youth, artists and community members working with the Melgund Integrated Nuclear Impact Assessment Project. This initiative is a climate entrepreneurship and arts-based community recreation program, developed through community consultation, engagement participation in the integrated impact assessment process for the NWMO’s proposed Deep Geological Repository for nuclear waste fuel.
What is Proposed
The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) identifies the Deep Geological Repository (DGR) as a designated project under Section 28(b) of the Physical Activities Regulations. The proposal focuses on the construction and operation phases as the primary activities triggering the Impact Assessment Act (IAA). The proponent claims that site characterization, decommissioning, and post-closure monitoring should remain under the exclusive regulatory oversight of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), rather than being fully integrated into the IAA process.
Underlying Assumptions
- Site characterization is a distinct phase that does not require the same environmental prohibitions as the main project.
- The project lifecycle can be segmented between regulatory bodies without losing holistic oversight.
- A conceptual post-closure safety analysis provides enough detail for public review at this stage.
- The graded approach to licensing is sufficient to protect community interests during early planning.
Community Assessment
Our assessment identifies a concerning trend of project segmentation, often called ‘salami-slicing.’ By isolating the construction phase from the long-term closure and decommissioning phases, the proponent risks a fragmented understanding of the total radiological and environmental impact. For the residents of Melgund Township, including Dyment and Borups Corners, this project is a singular, multi-generational event. The reliance on ‘conceptual’ data and a ‘graded approach’ suggests a lack of technical certainty that favors the proponent’s timeline over the precautionary principle. Furthermore, the exclusion of site characterization from the Initial Project Description oversight ignores the immediate physical disturbances, such as deep borehole drilling, which can impact local aquifers and social cohesion.
Path Forward
The proponent should develop a comprehensive Lifecycle Integration Plan that demonstrates how environmental and social findings from the IAA-led phases will be reconciled with CNSC-led phases. We also recommend a detailed sub-report on the physical scale of site characterization activities. Providing transparent data on borehole locations and water usage is essential to building trust and ensuring that the spirit of the Impact Assessment Act is upheld throughout the entire project lifecycle.
About the Integrated Assessment Process
The federal Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) has formally launched the integrated impact assessment process for the proposed Deep Geological Repository (DGR) for Canada’s Used Nuclear Fuel Project, a major national infrastructure initiative led by the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO).
The proposed underground repository is designed to permanently contain and isolate used nuclear fuel in a secure geological formation. Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation and the Township of Ignace have been selected as host communities for the project. The site is located approximately 21 kilometres southeast of Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation and 43 kilometres northwest of Ignace, Ontario, near Highway 17.
According to project materials, the repository would provide permanent storage for approximately 5.9 million bundles of used nuclear fuel. The full lifecycle of the project is expected to span roughly 160 years, including site preparation, construction, operations, closure, and long-term monitoring.
Integrated Federal Review
Major nuclear projects in Canada are subject to an integrated assessment process jointly led by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). This “one project, one review” approach is intended to streamline regulatory oversight while ensuring rigorous evaluation of environmental, health, social, economic, and Indigenous rights impacts.
Under this framework, IAAC oversees the impact assessment requirements under the Impact Assessment Act, while the CNSC regulates nuclear safety under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act. The CNSC will issue the initial site preparation licence and manage all subsequent nuclear licensing for the project’s duration.
The integrated assessment also includes a focus on potential impacts on Indigenous Peoples, including rights, land use, cultural practices, health, and socio-economic conditions. Where potential adverse effects are identified, the process is intended to identify mitigation measures to reduce or avoid harm.
Public Comment Period Now Open
The first public comment period for the project is currently open and will run until February 4, 2026. During this phase, the public is invited to provide feedback on the Summary of the Initial Project Description submitted by the NWMO. Submissions received during this period will inform IAAC’s summary of issues, which will guide the next stages of the impact assessment. All comments submitted become part of the public project record and are posted to the federal Impact Assessment Registry.
This plain-language summary is provided by ECO-STAR North and Art Borups Corners to support public engagement.
Disclaimer: The views and perspectives expressed in this article are solely those of the independent arts program led by ECO-STAR North and Art Borups Corners. They do not reflect the official positions of the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) or the Government of Canada.
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