'Major safety concern' sparked N.L. order that temporarily shut down Corner Brook mill

Internal provincial government briefing materials shed more light on why the Corner Brook paper mill temporarily shut down last month, highlighting "a major safety concern" that required "immediate action."

On April 4, the Newfoundland and Labrador government issued an order under the Public Safety Act that resulted in operations being halted.

The briefing note was prepared for Digital Government and Service N.L. Minister Sarah Stoodley that same day.

The document — obtained by CBC News through an access-to-information request — indicated officials in her department met with Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Limited management to discuss their findings.

"CBPPL indicated it does not plan to appeal the orders and have acknowledged that there are significant code violations at the mill," the briefing note advised.

According to the government documents, the company had been issued a directive nearly a year earlier, in May 2023, to develop a program for all safety relief devices for registered pressure systems.

It was submitted to the province last July and was deemed to have met the requirements.

But while inspecting 78 overdue pressure equipment items, provincial officials "assessed the degree to which CBPPL was complying" with that program, and found it was "not being implemented as intended."

That led them to cancel operating certificates for registered pressure relief devices and issue an order to stop the company from operating those devices until issues were "fully addressed."

Some pressure relief devices had not been serviced in more than 30 years. The program required that to happen every year or second year.

"Service intervals can only be increased when there is sufficient history to indicate it is safe to do so," the government briefing material noted.

"No such evidence exists to justify increasing service intervals."

'Immediate action' required

Inspectors also found examples of equipment that did not have the required pressure relief device installed, and others that weren't up to codes and standards.

"This non-compliance presents a major safety concern and requires immediate action," the briefing note said.

"Given the significant public safety issues not only to the immediate area in which the CBPPL plant is located, but also their employees, the occupational health and safety (OHS) division was advised accordingly."

A day after the province issued that order, Kruger Inc. — the parent company that owns the Corner Brook mill — released a statement announcing the temporary shutdown of operations there.

Kruger cited the need to make repairs to the steam distribution system, adding employee safety is its "top priority."

The company said it was working closely with government inspectors and "will take all necessary measures to ensure that all equipment is compliant with safety regulations, with the goal of resuming operations as quickly and as safely as possible."

On May 6, Kruger told CBC News that operations had resumed at the mill two weeks earlier.

CBC News asked both the province and the company for comment Thursday morning.

In an emailed statement, Digital Government and Service N.L. spokesperson Gina MacArthur said a mechanical contractor worked with the mill to address safety concerns, which involved all equipment that was non-compliant being inspected and recertified.

The statement also said work is continuing on 45 other outstanding directives related to "a variety of requirements."

Kruger acknowledged the request, but didn't respond as of 6:30 p.m. Thursday evening.

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