Northern Pulp withdraws Environmental Assessment registration for replacement Effluent Treatment Facility

Paper Excellence News

Plans being developed to overhaul mill operations including an advanced ETF

[Abercrombie, NS] – Northern Pulp Nova Scotia (“Northern Pulp” or “Company”), a producer of high-quality Northern Bleached Softwood Kraft pulp used to make a variety of products from tissue and paper towels to fine writing paper, announced it has notified Nova Scotia’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change of its withdrawal from the environmental assessment review process for a replacement Effluent Treatment Facility (ETF) effective today, May 5, 2021.  

“The withdrawal of the environmental assessment registration puts an end to previous plans and approaches and is an important step toward the future of the mill and rebuilding relationships with local residents, special interest groups, and First Nations,” said Graham Kissack, Vice President, Environment, Health, and Safety, and Communications.

Since hibernating the mill in January 2020, Northern Pulp has engaged with stakeholders and is developing a plan to transform the mill to address their issues and concerns.

“We have taken the time to listen and review input received over the past few years to inform the development of environmental transformation and modernization plans for everything from community engagement to forestry practices to addressing odour, air, and water emissions,” said Kissack. “We are committed to doing things differently.”

The environmental transformation and modernization plans include a public dashboard to display live environmental data, third-party administration of environmental compliance testing, new advanced effluent treatment systems, and the implementation of oxygen delignification, among many other important elements.

The Company plans to introduce and engage with community members and First Nations for their input and feedback on proposed transformation plans and register a new advanced ETF project with the Minister of Environment and Climate Change in May 2021.

More details about Northern Pulp’s environmental transformation and modernization plans and community engagement will be released in the coming weeks.

-30-

Paper Excellence, headquartered in British Columbia, is a diversified manufacturer of pulp and specialty, printing, writing, and packaging papers. The company operates seven mills and a large-scale cargo distribution centre in Canada producing and shipping over 2.8 million tonnes annually with a workforce of more than 2,800. Paper Excellence is poised to continue to grow with its strategy of operational excellence and high-quality, cost-effective products.

Media Contact: media@northernpulp.com