Evaluating Baseline Data for the Proposed DGR Site
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 is outlining the baseline data and planned studies for the atmospheric, acoustic, and visual environments at the proposed Revell site. The proponent claims that while the local atmospheric environment is influenced by regional industrial sources like the Dryden Mill and Ignace Sawmill, the immediate project site remains “intrinsically dark” and largely undeveloped. Because the nearest air quality monitoring stations are located hundreds of kilometers away in Thunder Bay and Winnipeg, the NWMO has initiated a site-specific collection program to establish background levels for conventional contaminants and radiological parameters as detailed in the Initial Project Description.
Underlying Assumptions
- Two-week noise monitoring snapshots are representative of entire seasonal acoustic profiles.
- Summer-only light monitoring is sufficient to characterize light pollution risks in a northern climate.
- General habitat and forest classifications are enough to establish a visual environment baseline without specific viewshed modeling.
- Regional air quality data from distant urban centers can provide meaningful context for a remote, wilderness site.
Community Assessment
Our community review highlights several technical and cultural gaps in the current proposal. A primary concern is the extreme distance of existing monitoring stations; using data from 240km to 350km away may lead to inaccurate modeling of project-related emissions. Furthermore, the plan to monitor light only during the summer months ignores the high albedo of snow-covered ground in winter, which significantly amplifies artificial light impacts in dark-sky regions. From a community perspective, the assertion that the visual environment baseline is “sufficiently complete” is premature. Without a formal viewshed analysis or deep consultation regarding culturally significant viewpoints, the assessment risks ignoring the spiritual and aesthetic value the landscape holds for the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation and local residents.
Path Forward
To ensure a robust assessment, the proponent should expand the scope of light and noise monitoring to cover the full annual cycle, specifically including winter light assessments. Noise monitoring should be synchronized with key biological windows for local wildlife to ensure baseline data reflects sensitive periods for fauna. Additionally, the NWMO must conduct a formal Viewshed Analysis using digital elevation modeling to identify specific points of visibility from transportation corridors and water bodies. This technical work must be supplemented by qualitative consultations with Indigenous and local community members to identify and protect significant landmarks that a standard biological classification might overlook.
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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