Northern Pulp mill disagrees with findings of CBCL study report

HALIFAX (Scrap Monster): The report by an environmental engineering firm submitted to Nova Scotia Environment Department states that Northern Pulp mill in Pictou County, NS should be able to meet stricter environmental conditions. However, government authorities are yet to comment on the CBCL report submitted to the province in June last year. Meantime, Paper Excellence-the company that operates the mill, has disagreed with the findings of the report.

According to the CBCL report, 30% reduction in water usage from the current levels is “technically feasible”. This would bring Northern Pulp’s water consumption levels on par with the North American average for similar category of mills. Also, a 23% reduction in effluent could be deemed as “technically feasible”. The report notes that both the measurements must be based on yearly average rather than daily average as was proposed by the province.

The province had asked Northern Pulp mill to achieve 23% reduction in waste water discharges. The reduction targets for waste water by 2020 are greater than the Canadian average and therefore must be technically achievable, the report notes. The mill currently discharges 91 cubic metres of water for every tonne of pulp produced, as compared with the North American average of 74 cubic metres per tonne for same category of kraft mills. The 2020 target for the mill is set at 87 cubic metres per tonne. Also, the Pictou County mill must reduce its water intake from 106 cubic metres per tonne today to 81 cubic metres per tonne by 2020.

Meanwhile, Bruce Chapman, general manager of Northern Pulp expressed disagreement with certain findings in the report. He noted that the company is unsure as to how it could be able to meet the proposed 30% reduction in water consumption. He disagreed with the finding that 30% reduction is “technically feasible”.

The Northern Pulp Nova Scotia Pulp Mill in Abercrombie Point, Pictou County, Nova Scotia has operated since 1967. The mill manufactures northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) from wood fibre. The mill provides direct jobs to nearly 300 and indirect employment to around 1,700 in the woods. The mill is considered as the largest consumer of wood fibre in Nova Scotia.