By early next week, only the wood waste boiler will continue to operate at the Northern Pulp mill in Pictou County.
In a news release Sunday, Northern Pulp Nova Scotia Corp. said it has begun to wind down operations at the Abercrombie Point mill to meet the impending Jan. 31 provincial deadline imposed by the Boat Harbour Act.
The boiler will remain active - at least for now - to provide heat for the facility to protect against freezing and enable cleanup of the processing equipment, the company said.
“Over the coming weeks, Northern Pulp will focus on the diligent removal of chemicals, pulp, and wood fibre from mill storage tanks, piping, and wood yards to meticulously prepare the facility for its indefinite closure,” the release states.
The company said it will continue discussions with the government with respect to the site’s hibernation plan.
“The length of time the facility will be in hibernation is currently unknown. Our team is also focused on supporting our employees and their families as the reality of lost jobs and livelihoods becomes clearer with the hibernation.”
Northern Pulp is currently reviewing the draft terms of reference developed by the province's Environment Department for an environmental assessment of a proposed effluent treatment facility.
“We still believe that a prosperous forestry economy and healthy environment can co-exist in Pictou County, just like it does in 89 other communities with pulp and paper mills across Canada," the release says.
RELATED:
