OTTAWA – Brynn Nheiley, Deputy Leader of the Green Party of Nova Scotia and Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada, welcome the ministerial order issued yesterday by Nova Scotia Environment Minister Randy Delorey to reduce emissions from Pictou County’s Northern Pulp mill.
The legal order outlines the required actions to reduce air quality emissions in order to come into compliance under the Environment Act before May 30, 2015.
“The Green Party of Nova Scotia (GPNS) is focused on working with Nova Scotia communities and this government to find solutions that provide for both a healthy economy and a healthy place to live,” stated GPNS Deputy Leader Brynn Nheiley. “We congratulate the provincial government for responding to the alarm raised by numerous groups in Pictou County.”
“However, we remain concerned about the almost exclusive focus on air pollution. The GPNS would like to draw attention to the contamination occurring in the waterways surrounding the mill. This contamination impacts health and has devastated the economic potential of the region for other industries such as fisheries.”
The order specifically requires Northern Pulp to:
- Ensure an electrostatic precipitator is built, installed and commissioned on the recovery boiler by May 30, 2015, to bring the mill's air emissions into compliance;
- Have stack test results submitted directly to the Department of Environment within 30 days of testing (compared to typical 90 days);
- Submit a schedule for installing the new precipitator and provide weekly progress reports in writing;
- Itemize actions to be taken during the September shutdown, and reporting on work done and recommendations made; and,
- do a second set of stack tests on or before Oct. 31, and have results sent to the Department of Environment within 30 days of completing the tests.
To view a copy of the order, go to: http://www.novascotia.ca/nse/issues/northern-pulp-boat-harbour.asp
“Thanks to the tireless work of local residents, business owners and activists in Pictou County, the Nova Scotia government is now taking action to protect the health and safety of the community,” added Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada and MP for Saanich–Gulf Islands.
“Although we are not certain what enforcement mechanisms will be used to ensure that the mill complies with this order, I am hopeful that Northern Pulp will obey the ministerial order, or face real consequences for polluting the air and water of Pictou County.”
Mounting public pressure in recent months compelled the Nova Scotia government to take action after a recent test found that toxic particulate emissions from the mill’s precipitator were far above permitted levels.
This ministerial order requires Northern Pulp to have a new precipitator in place and operating by May 30, 2015, and introduces more stringent emissions testing and reporting requirements for the mill.
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Contact:
Julian Morelli
Director of Communications
Green Party of Canada
(613) 614 4916
julian.morelli@greenparty.ca