By Maya Ekman
Local Journalism Initiative
Reporter
NWOnewswatch.com
MELGUND — “Its nice to be recognized finally, because we haven’t been up until now.”
Pat Daignault is chair of the Melgund Local Services Board, the highest elected official for the unorganized community just 12 kilometres from the proposed location of a deep-geological repository for high-level nuclear waste.
The tiny community of only 49 permanent residents is closer to the Revell Lake site than host communities Ignace and Wabigoon Lake Objbwe Nation, although the site is within the traditional territories of both Wabigoon and Eagle Lake First Nation.
On April 22, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) and Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) held an open house and presentation in Dyment, a small settlement within Melgund.
“The decision on whether the project is approved or not is going to governor council, and so it’s not a done deal that the project will happen,” said IAAC representative Élyse Maisonneuve-Campbell.
That was a surprise to Sylvia Green-Guenett, a member of the Dryden-based anti-nuclear group Sunset Country Spirit Alliance, who said the community has been under the impression the project was indeed “a done deal.”
“As far as we knew, this is going in, this is when it’s going to start, this is when it’s going to end, and we’re doing this. That’s what we’ve been taught,” she said.
As officials prepare to decide or whether and under what conditions the project would move ahead, Daignault had one big question.
“Who represents us?” he asked.
Maisonneuve-Campbell explained that there is an option to apply for funding to hire a lawyer on behalf of the community.
“We will apply for funding, and we will be represented professionally by experts. It’s the only way we can do it. We can’t do it on our own.” Daignault said.
“Because we’re such a small community, we’re just overlooked. They look at the bigger picture, not who is actually here and who it’s really going to affect” said lifelong Melgund resident Karen Daignault, Pat’s wife.
Roughly 15-20 people attended the meeting, a mix of Melgund residents and anti-nuclear activists who travelled from as far as North Bay.
One Melgund resident said that she would like to see water testing on a twice-yearly basis, and the results distributed to all residents. “If somethings going to happen, it’s going to happen to us. Not Ignace, not Dryden.” she said.
Following the first comment period, which saw over 600 comments, the IAAC referred the project to the current independent review panel.
The officials explained the impact assessment process and how their input will be used when it comes time to make a decision.
“The review panel can only look at what’s in the registry to make their decision, that is the only source of information they have” said CNSC representative Kendra Warnock-Juteau.
The team explained they are currently developing the guidelines that will act like an “instruction manual” for what the NWMO has to study. The NWMO provides those studies in an impact statement. After that is received, another comment period will be held.
“But for now, these guidelines are really important because if there’s something that’s not in there, then the NWMO doesn’t have to produce that study and there might be somethings that’s missed” Maisonneuve-Campbell said.
“If you read through (a section) of the guidelines and think there’s a big gap there, the scope isn’t right, its not described the way that it actually is in reality, please let us know and we will do our best to ensure that those values and concerns are reflected throughout the process and go in front of the review panel when it comes time for decision making” said Warnock-Juteau.
Maisonneuve-Campbell explained that information will be reviewed from experts from all levels of the government, from First Nations, the CNSC and the NWMO.
“They’ll have different views, and the panel will have to ask them questions to figure out who has the most credible arguments, who makes the most sense,” said Maisonneuve-Campbell.
“The impact assessment process, it’s a different game,” said Maisonneuve-Campbell in response to concerns about the NWMO’s responsiveness to questions from the public.
“We encourage you to participate … We’re trying to make sure that everybody has a voice. And that is the goal.”
More than 1,000 comments have been submitted to-date in the current review period, which will remain open until midnight on Sunday. More information on the project and how to submit a comment is available on the IAAC website.
