After two Canadian agencies received more than 900 public comments on Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s (NWMO) proposed deep geological repository in Ontario, the project has been referred to an independent review panel for additional vetting, officials said this week.
The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC), which oversees the application, issued a notice of referral on Monday March 23. IAAC said in a separate statement that further assessment was needed due to the adverse effects the project may cause and comments it received.
“IAAC has chosen to issue the notice of referral to a review panel prior to the notice of commencement to provide greater certainty to participants and the proponent regarding next steps in the integrated assessment and to facilitate collaboration with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission,” IAAC said.
In January, NWMO submitted its Initial Project Description for the Deep Geological Repository for Canada’s Used Fuel Project to IAAC. The organization’s 92-page Initial Project Description details the deep geological repository’s purpose, need and potential benefits, NWMO said.
Both IAAC and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission took public feedback from Jan. 5 to Feb. 4 and received over 600 comments on the repository project.
According to IAAC’s summary of issues, key concerns community members brought up were radiological conditions, infrastructure and services and the possibility of accidents and malfunctions. Indigenous People had concerns about Indigenous engagement, current use of lands and resources and the possible impacts on cultural and historical sites.
NWMO submitted a 767-page response to the summary of issues on March 12.
An Ontario, Canada-based environmental group We the Nuclear Free North hailed IAAC’s referral to an independent review panel for additional review as a win and “a good development” for the group, according to a Northwest Ontario Newswatch Tuesday article.
In that same article, NWMO spokesperson Vince Ponka said IAAC’s decision was an expected step in the regulatory process.
NWMO proposed plans to construct an underground facility for long-term storage of spent nuclear fuel near Ignace.
NWMO has implemented its own version of consent-based siting to select Canada’s deep geological repository for waste disposal. In November 2024, the Canadian waste management organization chose Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation and Township of Ignace as host communities for a waste disposal site in northwestern Ontario.
In May 2025, NWMO selected a multi-contractor team composed of WSP Canada, Peter Kiewit Sons, Hatch Ltd., Thyssen Mining Construction of Canada Ltd. and Kinectrics to design and plan the disposal site.