The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) has released the initial project description for a proposed deep geological repository to store Canada’s used nuclear fuel.

The project description is now posted to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada website.

The NWMO is proposing to build a repository system that would safely contain and isolate used nuclear fuel. The deep geological repository would provide permanent storage for approximately 5.9 million bundles of used nuclear fuel.

The project is expected to span approximately 160 years, encompassing site preparation, construction, operation and closure monitoring.

NWMO has already identified Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation and the Township of Ignace have been selected as the host communities for the proposed project, which is located 21 kilometres southeast of the First Nation and 43 kilometres northwest of the Town of Ignace, Ontario along Highway 17.

The release of the initial project description marks the beginning of an in-depth regulatory process as the project moves from planning to independent review.

The document details the deep geological repository’s purpose, need and expected benefits, and it explains how the project will be implemented in a manner that protects people and the environment. It also provides a preliminary assessment of potential impacts and describes measures to avoid or mitigate them.

“For the NWMO, submitting the initial project description represents more than a regulatory requirement,” said Allan Webster, NWMO’s Vice-President of Regulatory Approvals. “It is a shared starting point that brings together engineering, environmental, Indigenous knowledge and community perspectives to guide how the project moves forward through impact assessment, licensing, design optimization, construction and operations.”

On a global scale, many recognized scientific organizations support geological repositories as the safest long-term solution for managing used nuclear fuel. Canada is among the leading countries in this space and is committed to applying best-in-class practices, leveraging decades of scientific research, sustained community engagement and alignment with international standards.

Throughout its life, the project will remain subject to the Impact Assessment Act, the Nuclear Fuel Waste Act, the Nuclear Safety and Control Act, and numerous other federal and provincial licensing and regulatory requirements.