News Pulp Water & Chemicals
Northern Pulp decision lies with Nova Scotia after feds withdraw

The federal government has announced it will not proceed with an environmental impact assessment on Northern Pulp’s proposed effluent treatment facility.

The Canadian Press reports that Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, who delivered his decision ahead of the expected Dec. 20 deadline, indicated pulp and paper mill projects do not historically fall under federal purview.

This leaves the final decision on whether or not the Paper Excellence–owned mill in Abercrombie, Nova Scotia can construct its proposed 15.5-kilometre pipeline, which will deliver treated effluent into Northumberland Strait, with the province.

The province’s environmental impact assessment is expected Dec. 17.

Northern Pulp been ordered by the province to remove its existing pipe from its current location, which runs near the Pictou Landing First Nation and into the waters of Boat Harbour, by January 31, 2020.

While Northern Pulp maintains its proposed system would meet and exceed federal requirements for pulp and paper waste, local groups opposed to the plan say the mill has not indicated that the quality of the effluent that would be drained into the strait will be an improvement over the current setup at Boat Harbour.

Read the full story from The Canadian Press on our partner site Manufacturing AUTOMATION.