Evaluating the Baseline: Soil, Sediment, and Topography
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 NWMO’s Initial Project Description outlines the physical characteristics of the Revell site, characterizing the topography as typical Canadian Shield with significant exposed bedrock. The proponent claims that baseline soil and sediment quality is generally within guidelines, though they identify “naturally elevated” levels of metals such as chromium, iron, and manganese. They propose that current topographical studies are sufficiently complete, while acknowledging the need for some ongoing soil and sediment monitoring.
Underlying Assumptions
- Topographical data collected via LiDAR is sufficient to inform the entire licensing and impact statement process without further monitoring.
- Shallow soil sampling (limited to 0.3m depth) provides a representative baseline for the entire project site.
- Current laboratory detection limits are acceptable, even when they fail to meet or exceed regulatory quality guidelines.
- Naturally occurring metal exceedances do not require deeper investigation into their potential interaction with future construction activities.
Community Assessment
Our critical review highlights several technical and cultural concerns that matter deeply to the local community. Most notably, laboratory detection limits for sediment were found to be higher than or equal to available quality guidelines. This technical failure makes it impossible to establish a true baseline for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), meaning future project-related contamination could go undetected. Furthermore, the limited sample size—only 40 soil and 23 sediment samples—may fail to identify localized ‘hot spots’ of contamination. From a community standpoint, the lack of integration with Indigenous knowledge is a major oversight; the assessment does not consider how ‘naturally elevated’ metals might impact traditional land use or subsistence activities. Declaring topographical studies ‘complete’ prematurely also risks ignoring changes that may occur during the massive site preparation phase.
Path Forward
To ensure a robust environmental framework, the proponent must immediately rectify technical deficiencies by re-sampling sediment using high-resolution laboratory methods with detection limits significantly lower than federal guidelines. We recommend expanding the soil sampling program to include deeper profiles and a higher density of sampling locations to ensure statistical significance. Crucially, the selection of future sampling sites must be co-developed with local Indigenous communities to prioritize areas of high cultural and subsistence value, ensuring that the environmental baseline is both scientifically sound and socially responsible.
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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