Northern Pulp mill optimistic about fixing 'toxic' boiler emissions

HALIFAX (Scrap Monster):  Pictou, N.S residents have expressed concerns over Northern Pulp mill’s failure to fix particulate emissions from the facility. The repeated failure of the company to meet deadlines has led to serious health hazards to neighboring community, they alleged. Meantime, Northern Pulp expressed the hope that particulate emissions will be controlled at the earliest. The emission from power boiler will be fixed during the regular September shutdown, it stated.

The latest emission test results released in June this year had stated that the particulate emissions from the power boiler equipment in the mill exceeded the acceptable limit by over 10%. According to Kathy Cloutier, Communications manager, Northern Pulp, the company is currently studying the possible reasons for elevated emission levels and that it will take necessary actions to address the concerns at the earliest. Cloutier further stated that all problems will be cleaned up during the ten days regular shutdown period in September. He reminded of the steps implemented in the past to contain emission levels. The precipitator equipment, installed at the facility at an expense of $35 million, is working fine, he noted.

Several environmental groups had criticized the N.S government for relaxing the paper production cap and water usage rules to the Northern Pulp mill at Abercrombie Point, Pictou County. The provincial administration had eliminated the conditions limiting the quantum of effluent the mill is allowed to discharge. As per original approval, the mill was required to restrain daily effluent to 67,500 cubic metres by Jan. 30, 2020. The NS administration had decided to delete this condition. Also, the NS government had relaxed the water usage rules for the mill from the earlier daily limit of 63,000 cubic metres to no more than 92,310 cubic metres per day.

A report by CBCL-an environmental engineering firm had recommended that Northern Pulp mill should be able to meet stricter environmental conditions. The report had stated that 30% reduction in water usage from current levels would bring the consumption level at the mill on par with the North American average for similar category of mills. The report had also suggested 23% reduction in effluent. However, the company had disagreed with certain findings of the report. Bruce Chapman, general manager of Northern Pulp had noted that the company is unsure as to how it could be able to meet the proposed 30% reduction in water consumption. Further, he had disagreed with the finding that 30% reduction is “technically feasible”.

Earlier in March this year, Northern Pulp was fined $225,000 by a Pictou provincial court for alleged leakage of toxic pulp mill effluent to treatment lagoons at Boat Harbour. The effluent leak was discovered by Northern Pulp employees and a break in the pipe was located 40 minutes later on the Pictou Landing side of the East River. The investigation by the Environment Canada inspectors found that nearly 47,000,000 litres of effluent had been released into area.

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.