Analysis of Preliminary Air Quality Risk Screening and Data Gaps
This article is part of a series exploring the views and perspectives of youth, artists and community members working with the ECO-STAR North climate entrepreneurship project, developed through our community consultation and engagement participation in the integrated impact assessment process for the proposed Deep Geological Repository.
What is Proposed
The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) has outlined potential changes to air quality resulting from project activities such as land clearing, blasting, and the construction of surface and underground facilities. These activities are expected to generate criteria air contaminants (CACs), including particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5), nitrogen oxides, and fugitive dust. The proponent asserts that through the application of standard mitigation measures—such as dust suppression techniques and emission controls—residual effects will be managed effectively. The proposal currently characterizes the overall risk of adverse environmental effects as “low,” anticipating that emissions will largely settle within 500 meters to 1 kilometer of the source.
Underlying Assumptions
Our analysis of the proposal identifies several key assumptions relied upon by the proponent to reach their preliminary conclusions:
- That standard industry mitigation strategies will effectively reduce contaminant concentrations below regulatory guidelines without current site-specific validation.
- That emissions and fugitive dust will settle within a short range (500m to 1km) regardless of specific local weather patterns or terrain.
- That a “low risk” designation can be assigned prior to the completion of air quality dispersion modelling.
- That future regulatory reviews (CNSC, MECP) are sufficient substitutes for detailed assessment within the current Impact Assessment phase.
Community Assessment
Our review identifies a critical gap in the Initial Project Description: the assignment of a “low risk” rating in the absence of completed air quality dispersion modelling. Relying on generalizations regarding particle settling distances fails to account for fine particulates (PM2.5), which can travel significantly further than 1 kilometer depending on wind conditions. Furthermore, the suggestion that the Impact Assessment Act (IAA) process should only focus on “moderate to extreme” risks may inadvertently exclude community-valued components from necessary public scrutiny. The “low risk” determination appears unsubstantiated by site-specific empirical evidence at this stage, raising concerns about the validity of the preliminary screening.
Path Forward
To address these uncertainties, we recommend that the proponent prioritize the immediate completion and public release of site-specific air dispersion modelling and the Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment (HHERA). These studies must be finalized to validate the preliminary risk categorization before the Impact Statement is submitted. Additionally, a community-led air quality monitoring committee, involving the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation and the Township of Ignace, should be established. This committee must be empowered to define sensitive “receptors” for the risk assessment, ensuring that culturally significant sites and local health concerns are integrated into the monitoring framework.
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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