Construction of new precipitator at Northern Pulp underway

Published on August 22, 2014

ABERCROMBIE POINT Around a dozen workers have been coming and going from the new construction site on the west side of Northern Pulp.

Northern Pulp

Over the past few weeks, foundations have been laid, steel beams have been fabricated and work continues on the 28-foot cradle that will house the pulp mills new electrostatic precipitator.

So when Environment Minister Randy Delorey issued a ministerial order for the mill to reduce air quality emissions that exceed approved limits by May 30, 2015, it was business as usual for the workers.

Northern Pulp has long been working toward a May 2015 completion date for the recovery boiler precipitator, said mill spokesman David MacKenzie. We believe that we will be able to meet that deadline.

In a release on Aug 21, Premier Stephen McNeil said that the government has heard the concerns of Pictou County residents and is addressing them.

"They are voicing their concerns because they want a healthy, safe and prosperous Pictou County. We all want the same things," McNeil said. "This order makes it clear to Northern Pulp what this government expects of the company so we can clean up the air for residents and the industry can continue to prosper."

The order says the pulp mill is in violation of a term and condition of its approval, by exceeding air quality stack emissions from a recovery boiler.

"This ministerial order outlines several actions that I expect the company to complete between now and next spring," said Delorey. "This legally binding document commits Northern Pulp to cleaning up its emissions."

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Construction of new precipitator at Northern Pulp underway