Mill to undergo tougher assessment
ABERCROMBIE — Northern Pulp's proposed new effluent treatment plant project will undergo a more stringent review than the previous one it proposed.
The company's proposed project was made public on July 15 and calls for the installation of a treatment plant on the mill's existing property in Abercrombie. Treated effluent would be released into the Pictou Harbour.
The company's proposal involves changes to the pulp mill itself, as well as the design and construction of a new effluent treatment plant.
"The changes outlined in the company's project description would make the mill a substantially different facility than the one that had operated there previously. As a result, I have concluded it requires a Class II environmental assessment process," said Environment and Climate Change Minister Keith Irving.
A Class II environmental assessment typically takes 275 calendar days to complete, not including the time it takes to prepare an environmental assessment report. The proponent has up to two years, outside of the review time, to prepare the environmental assessment report.
In a Class II process, an environmental assessment panel is appointed to review the project and provide a report and recommendation to the minister.
Northern Pulp formally withdrew its previous replacement effluent treatment project from the environmental assessment process on May 5, 2021. That previous project was only required to undergo a Class I environmental assessment.
The next step is for the company to register its new project for environmental assessment. Once that happens, the registration documents will be posted online, and the department will draft terms of reference for public review and comment.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
Class I undertakings are usually smaller in scale and may or may not cause significant environmental impacts or be of sufficient concern to the public. Therefore, a public review of a proponent's initial submission or registration is required and the minister will decide if a more detailed review and/or public hearing is required. These types of developments include, but are not limited to, mines, certain highways and waste dangerous goods handling facilities.
Class II undertakings are typically larger in scale and are considered to have the potential to cause significant environmental impacts and concerns to the public.
These types of developments include, but are not limited to, solid waste incinerators, petrochemical facilities and pulp plants. These undertakings require an environmental assessment report and formal public review which may include hearings.