Within Northern Pulp's 1700 page submission they mention on many occasions that they are uncertain about the characteristics and qualities of the final effluent. This is a huge red flag. How do we know what they are emitting into the air and pumping into the water is safe for our health? Safe to our food sources?
The proposed effluent process will be processing the waste within 24 hours and dumping it into the Strait with the proposed chemical composition of the effluent unknown. Therefore it will not have the 300 acre lagoon to provide further aeration, settling, cooling, volatilization and breakdown of materials that takes place during that time like it has from the current Boat Harbour waste process. That is one of the main reason why the proposed system is not better since it doesn’t have the time like the old process to settle, cool down, become further diluted etc.
The community of PLFN have suffered more than most from the Boat Harbour pollution via water and air. The surrounding Pictou County communities also have felt the negative impacts due to the poor air quality. The new waste proposal doesn’t address the air pollution because it shows a plan to burn contaminated sludge in power boiler which raises new threats to air quality.
The waste sludge contains toxins which would be released through the stacks of the mill’s power boiler. The proposal is to "dewater the sludge prior to mixing it with bark and other woodwaste for combustion in the mill's power boiler.". This is the same power boiler that is currently and repeatedly failing stack emissions tests. Problems with air quality from mill emissions have been documented for years. Lack of appropriate monitoring and enforcement already puts area residents at risk. Now, Northern Pulp is considering adding sludge containing toxins to the combustion mix and have clearly stated they are uncertain of the chemical composition of the effluent.
We must let our Provincial and Federal Governments know we are concerned. To do so, submit your concerns to the following addresses:
Provincial Environmental Assessment before March 9th: email ea@novascotia.ca
The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is also accepting public feedback until February 25th as it decides whether to recommend that a federal assessment be conducted.
email: CEAA.BoatHarbour.ACEE@canada.ca
#NOPIPE #NOEXTENSION