Pictou Landing First Nation chief ‘thankful’ for province’s decision
Anticipation turned to relief inside the band office at Pictou Landing First Nation on Dec. 17 after Environment Minister Gordon Wilson announced Northern Pulp will need to submit more information on its proposed effluent treatment facility.
“That’s what we’ve been asking from the beginning,” said PLFN Chief Andrea Paul. “To make sure that the science they’re providing isn’t going to have any harm on our resources, our fish, our land and our air.”
The controversial project proposed by Northern Pulp would see treated effluent from the mill at Abercrombie Point dumped into the Northumberland Strait, which has raised concerns among fishermen’s groups, environmentalists and the people of Pictou Landing First Nation.
“This has confirmed to us that our concerns are not wrong,” said Paul. “And we’re thankful that the regulators have been listening and have been taking our concerns seriously.”
Northern Pulp now has up to two years to complete a new assessment, to again address areas of concern, which the Department of Environment says is necessary before accepting or rejecting the proposed project.
In a letter from Wilson to the mill’s general manager Bruce Chapman, Wilson highlighted aspects of the proposed project that regulators have told the company to resolve, including the effect of treated effluent on marine life and impact that an effluent leak from the overland portion of the pipe could have on the town of Pictou’s drinking water.
With regards to Boat Harbour, Northern Pulp has applied for an extension, which would mean prolonged use of Boat Harbour as an effluent treatment facility. The facility is legislated to close Jan. 31, 2020.
With the Boat Harbour deadline approaching faster than the kraft paper mill can build a replacement effluent facility, Northern Pulp is asking the province to make a decision on a Boat Harbour extension. Premier Stephen McNeil said he will announce a decision on Friday.
As far as Pictou Landing First Nation’s chief and council are concerned, the date is the date.
“We are 44 days away,” said Paul. “This is the closest that Pictou Landing First Nation has ever been to the end of pollution in our yard.”