Now that the Northern Pulp mill has stopped discharging wastewater into Boat Harbour, Nova Scotians expect the remainder of the shutdown of the mill site to be completed in a way that is safe and protects the environment.
The government owns the pipe that runs from the mill to Boat Harbour and is funding work to decommission the pipe along with other key elements of the environmental clean up. Paper Excellence, the mill’s parent company, is receiving a maximum of $10 million, or about half of the cost of shutting down the Boat Harbour effluent treatment facility, as part of the work to hibernate the mill. The funding will pay for the removal of the leachate, decommission the pipes, ditches, and settling and aeration basins on the site.
Boat Harbour was once a tidal estuary. It has received industry wastewater since 1967 and was sealed off from the ocean in 1972. The goal of the remediation project is to return Boat Harbour to its original state – that of a tidal estuary.
“We are committed to seeing the clean up is done right, and through the funding agreement, we will hold the company accountable to make sure it does,” said Premier Stephen McNeil. “Completing this work is an important part of the process to return Boat Harbour – A’se’k – to its original state for the people of Pictou Landing First Nation and surrounding communities.”
The company’s work plan is in line with orders from the Minister of Environment and needs to be complete before Nova Scotia Lands can remediate Boat Harbour in 2021. The total shutdown process will cost about $20 million and is expected to be completed by June 30, 2021.
To read Nova Scotia Environment’s ministerial order, click here.
For further information about the Boat Harbour remediation project, click here.
