DGR for Canada's used Nuclear Fuel Project

I’m writing to share my concerns about the NWMO’s proposed used nuclear fuel project near Ignace/Wabigoon.

NWMO has described transportation of used nuclear fuel as a core part of its Adaptive Phased Management plan. This is documented in Choosing a Way Forward: Final Study (2005), the Implementing Adaptive Phased Management reports, and the Transportation Planning Framework (2017). Transportation has always been presented as essential to the project.

Because of that, it’s troubling to see NWMO now trying to exclude transportation from the Impact Assessment. Transportation is not a minor detail — it has major implications for safety, the environment, emergency response, and Indigenous rights. Under the Impact Assessment Act (2019), any activity that could affect health or the environment, including those “incidental to the project,” must be assessed. Moving high‑level radioactive waste clearly qualifies.

I’m also concerned about the lack of detailed information on project activities that could expose workers or nearby residents to radiological risks. The Preliminary Safety Assessment (2022) is high‑level, the Ignace site reports leave out important operational details, and NWMO’s radiological protection plans are still very general. These fall short of what the Impact Statement Guidelines require, including clear information on radiological hazards, accident scenarios, and transportation risks.

I’m asking the Impact Assessment Agency to:

1. Keep transportation fully within the scope of the Impact Assessment.

2. Require NWMO to provide complete, detailed information about all project activities, especially those involving radiological risks.

3. Ensure the assessment is thorough, and transparent.

Finally, I want to be clear: I am 100% opposed to this project. As a born and raised Indigenous resident of Northwestern Ontario and  member of the Treaty 3 territory, the risks of this project far outweigh any possible benefit. Protecting our lands, waters, and communities must come first.