Protecting the environment
Our Environmental Responsibility Statement
At the suggestion of the Advisory Council in 2016, the NWMO began developing an Environmental Responsibility Statement that outlines our commitment to environmental sustainability as we move forward with implementing Canada’s plan.
The statement articulates how we are going to protect the environment and support sustainability in our daily practices. It builds on environmental principles we have already put into practice and also defines our vision of what can be achieved. The NWMO will continue to incorporate the Environmental Responsibility Statement into our plans as we look ahead to the implementation of the project at the selected site.
Environmental regulation
The NWMO is committed to meeting all applicable regulatory standards and requirements as we implement Canada’s plan.
The project we are implementing will be regulated by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), which works in co-operation with other federal, provincial and municipal government departments and agencies in areas such as public and worker health and safety, environmental protection and transportation.
The CNSC uses a comprehensive licensing system to ensure the environment is protected throughout the entire life cycle of the deep geological repository. It requires that adequate environmental protection policies, programs and procedures be implemented.
The CNSC can only make a licensing decision on a geological repository after the completion of an impact assessment, as established by the Impact Assessment Act.
The purpose of an impact assessment is to help ensure projects are planned in a way that protects people and the environment. It is a tool used to look at the positive and negative effects a project might have. It also helps gather information from different groups and experts so better decisions can be made. The goal is to support projects that are safe for the environment, respectful to communities and good for the future.
Environmental monitoring program
The environmental monitoring program is underway in the area of the selected site located in Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation territory, near the Township of Ignace in northwestern Ontario. This includes environmental baseline monitoring, borehole drilling and testing, biodiversity studies, field studies, water protection initiatives and more.
Many of the NWMO’s environmental studies have been co-created with residents in the siting area. The studies the NWMO has completed help communities become more informed about local and regional community well-being, as well as environmental conditions and possibilities.
The insights communities obtain from these studies also provide a foundation for future community initiatives.
Protecting water together
Environmental Review Group
In 2018, the NWMO established an Environment Review Group (ERG) to provide independent expert advice and guidance on environmental programs and impact assessment planning.
The impact assessment process involves conducting detailed analyses of the potential impacts of the project. The results of these analyses are used in the design of the project, including measures that will be implemented to mitigate or offset potential negative effects.
The ERG advises the NWMO on developing an effective impact assessment process, including engagement, aligning Indigenous Knowledge and western science, and international best practices.
The group meets quarterly (once per year in person) to discuss strategic issues relating to assessing potential impacts of the project on the natural environment.
