Northern Pulp operating permit renewel up at end of month

Northern Pulp will learn the conditions for renewal of its operating permit at the end of the month.

The mill is seeking a new five-year operating permit from the province. 

The mill and the Department of Environment's ability to regulate emissions that continue to exceed allowable limits have been the subject of much controversy.

When the mill's emissions were last tested in November, the particulate reading at that time was 78 per cent higher than acceptable standards, although the company says there has been a 25 per cent improvement in the levels since then.

The province's Environment Department has released the draft industrial approval, which the government says would bring the Pictou County operation in line with other mills in North America.

It would require the company to bring down water usage and waste water by 40 per cent by 2020.

The province is reviewing 96 written comments, 75 from members of the Clean the Mill group in Pictou County. 

Matt Gunning, spokesman for the group, says a five-year approval doesn’t give the province much leverage.

"I think a one-year time limit would allow us a chance to find out just how truly confident this government is in their ability to enforce this. Five years is just buying time until the next election," he says.

The mill says pollution control equipment coming in May should help it meet standards in line with the rest of North America, with particulate 80 per cent lower than allowed today.  

But those targets could take time and Gunning has concerns.

"For sure, there shouldn't be any increase in production until we know that precipitator is up and running and meeting its promised parameters," he says.

The facility has been working in recent months to bring down emissions levels by May 30 after a government compliance order was issued in August.

The Environment Department says the company is operating below its current annual production limit.

Another condition would force the mill to cut its water consumption, also reducing how much wastewater would flow to a proposed treatment plant to replace Boat Harbour. Gunning says that Provincial condition is not strict enough.

"They're going to have to get really serious about reducing the water consumption if they are going to be serious about keeping this promise they made to the people of Pictou County," he says. 

Joe Hawes, mayor of Pictou, says the town wants the mill to stay open.

"We're all for improvement. We’re not for closing it down, we’re for cleaning it up," he says.