The Northern Pulp mill in Abercrombie Point, N.S., is viewed from Pictou, N.S., December 13, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
HALIFAX – The company behind a beleaguered mill in northern Nova Scotia is proposing a “complete transformation” of its operations in an effort to reopen the idled kraft pulp plant, a plan that was quickly rebuked by local leaders and environmental advocates.
Mill owner Paper Excellence said its $350-million transformation plan would slash water use, reduce wastewater components, lower visible plumes from the mill’s stacks and remove detectable odours during normal operations.
Yet despite added steps to treat wastewater, the plan to restart the mill continues to involve discharging treated effluent from the Northern Pulp mill into Pictou harbour.
Yet despite added steps to treat wastewater, the plan to restart the mill continues to involve discharging treated effluent from the Northern Pulp mill into Pictou harbour.
The plant, which opened in the late 1960s, made kraft pulp a key ingredient for making toilet paper and other paper products. It was mothballed in January 2020 after the province banned the mill from dumping effluent near a local Mi’kmaq community.
Pictou Mayor Jim Ryan questioned why it took so long for the company to propose cleaning up the mill s environmental footprint. As far as I m concerned, they burned one too many bridges, he said. There would be very little tolerance for any of the effluent treated or untreated to go directly into the harbour.
Complete transformation of idled N S mill panned by critics | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan s News Source infotel.ca - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from infotel.ca Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.