Environment Minister Margaret Miller has made a decision on the outstanding items within Northern Pulp’s appeal of its industrial approval.

The industrial approval issued almost a year ago was appealed by the Pictou County mill. The outstanding items were related to the mill’s water use.

With this decision, Northern Pulp must:
— achieve a maximum daily average water consumption rate of 92,310 cubic metres by Jan. 30, 2020
— not exceed 80,000 cubic metres per day by Jan. 30, 2018 and 70,000 cubic metres per day by Jan. 30, 2020. These numbers are calculated on annual average
— submit a list of proposed capital water reduction projects one year prior to proposed implementation of the projects. Following a review by the department, detailed engineering plans for a project may be required from the company
— retain the services of a qualified third-party professional engineer to determine the impacts of water reduction projects on the quality of the effluent entering and being discharged from the effluent treatment system
— conduct an assessment of total reduced sulphur levels in wastewater which compares to current emissions to performance objectives by June 15, and submit an annual report of wastewater total reduced sulphur loading results to the department by June 30 each year

“Government has worked very hard these past two years to ensure a cleaner and safe, operating mill, and to ensure we support Nova Scotians in their desire for an environmentally healthy and prosperous Pictou County,” said Ms. Miller. “The limits outlined in this decision remain lower than the limits in the mill’s 2011 approval.”

These requirements are in addition to the changes implemented as result of the July 9, 2015 decision.

The decision letter is available on the department’s website at http://novascotia.ca/nse/issues/northern-pulp.asp .

Source: Release