Nova Scotia waiting on cleanup plan from Northern Pulp for defunct mill
Northern Pulp is abandoning its plans in Nova Scotia, but the province is still counting on the company to decommission its old mill and clean up the site in Pictou County that was used for heavy industrial activity for more than half a century.
Environment Minister Tim Halman says his department is waiting for the company to file a reclamation plan. He offered little other information about how things could unfold.
"We'll have more to say about that Abercrombie site when there's updates," he told reporters Thursday following a cabinet meeting, referring to the mill's location in Abercrombie Point.
Northern Pulp had been pursuing a new mill in Liverpool, N.S., and had said it would maintain the old mill for "potential logistics operations." But the plan for a new mill was abandoned earlier this month.
In a settlement agreement reached last year, Northern Pulp agreed to pay up to $15 million to the province for the mill's closure and any necessary cleanup.
The pulp and paper mill was built in the 1960s and operated under several different owners until it was forced to shut down in 2020 and went into a mothball state. A chemical producer, Canso Chemicals, also operated on the site for two decades, leaving behind mercury contamination.
Halman wouldn't comment on what the extent of the contamination might be.
"The proponent needs to put forward the specifics in that reclamation plan, and once we have that, we'll have more to say," he said.
Debts to pay off, first
Before Northern Pulp gives the promised $15 million to the province, it must first pay off hundreds of millions of dollars owed to its creditors as part of an insolvency process being handled in a B.C. court.
The company is preparing to auction off its assets and it's not clear how much debt it will be able to pay off.
Halman said there's no deadline for the reclamation plan to be filed.
"It's about expectations, and the province has the expectation that the Environment Act is followed," he said.
WATCH| Northern Pulp abandons plans for a new mill:
Northern Pulp will not pursue new operation near Liverpool
9 days ago
Members of Nova Scotia's forestry sector and the natural resources minister say they're disappointed, but not surprised. On Monday, Northern Pulp announced it would continue with its creditor protection process with an effort to sell off its assets. Michael Gorman has the story.
Interim Liberal Leader Derek Mombourquette said the public deserves a timeline.
"I think the community needs a clear set of expectations of when that [reclamation plan] can be released," Mombourquette said.
NDP MLA Paul Wozney questioned whether the province will be able to hold Northern Pulp accountable and keep taxpayers off the hook.
"How brave do they want to be in using their powers to protect Nova Scotians in that respect?" Wozney said.
He wasn't clear about what levers he thought the province should pull to hold the company accountable, saying "it's more a philosophical question than a functional one."
Representatives for the company did not immediately respond to questions about the mill's closure and site cleanup.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
12 hours ago
- CBC
Environment minister suggests offshore wind necessary to meet 2030 climate targets
Nova Scotia's environment minister says he believes his government can still reach its goal of having the province off coal and generating 80 per cent of electricity from renewable sources by 2030, but he also suggested Tuesday that effort would require the help of offshore wind. "I think it has to," Tim Halman told CBC News in an interview. The problem for Halman is that bids for offshore wind development are not scheduled to open until the end of this year and industry experts say it takes at least seven years to build an offshore wind farm, a timeline considered to be ambitious. Although the province has approved 14 onshore wind farms, which will play "a major role" in achieving the 2030 goals, the province needs "other things, as well," said Halman, who went on to list expanded solar power and offshore wind. Greenhouse gas reduction targets on track — report The 2030 goals are part of legislation the Progressive Conservatives passed during their first mandate that lays out steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, combat and adapt to climate change and reach net-zero emissions status by 2050. That legislation requires annual progress reports and the latest update released by the government last week shows mixed findings. With a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 53 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, Nova Scotia currently has reduced emissions by 38 per cent. The report says the province is on track to reach its target. It also shows that programs from Efficiency Nova Scotia exceeded their targets for saving electricity and reducing demand. Some goals appear at risk But in other areas, the province appears to have an uphill battle in achieving its targets. Twenty per cent of Nova Scotia's total land and water mass is supposed to be protected by 2030 and to date the figure stands at 13.75 per cent. A provincial food strategy was supposed to be developed, yet the report makes no mention of the fact that the agriculture minister announced the abandonment of that plan earlier this year. The province is also well off the pace it requires to achieve the goal of having zero-emission vehicles make up 30 per cent of new vehicle sales by 2030. It was at five per cent in 2024, up from 4.4 per cent the previous year. The report also says a step calling for the banning of oil-fired heating equipment in new buildings by 2025 "is being considered in a way that considers affordability for Nova Scotians." Halman could not provide clarity on whether that means his government intends to make good on the action. He said he has "a laser focus" on implementing the goals, but also said — without elaborating — that the government does not want to do anything that could cause an increase in the cost of living. Marla MacLead, director of programs for the Ecology Action Centre, said she was underwhelmed by the progress report. "The thing that struck me is this government really lacks courage," she said in an interview. MacLeod said government officials seem unwilling to have mature conversations, are sitting on multiple reports that relate to the environmental goals and won't be up front about targets that have either been abandoned or seem in danger of being missed. There's real ambition around the talk of offshore wind, which if done well could be "an incredible step" for the province's environment and energy needs, said MacLeod. But overall, she said, too many of the goals and actions in the plan are lagging behind and the government isn't doing enough to engage with partners that could help. "We're just not seeing the progress that we need."
Winnipeg Free Press
29-07-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Cabinet authorizes environment minister to dismiss appeals of mining plant's approval
The provincial cabinet has agreed to let the environment minister dismiss appeals related to the licensing of a new tailings plant at a critical minerals mine near Whiteshell Provincial Park. The July 16 order in council allows Environment and Climate Change Minister Mike Moyes to dismiss four appeals filed after the Chinese-owned Tantalum Mining Corp. of Canada Ltd. — Tanco — was issued an Environment Act licence on Aug. 27 to build and operate a new tailings reprocessing facility. A tailings plant is a specialized structure designed to safely store and manage waste materials produced during mining operations. SUPPLIED An aerial view of the Tanco Mine near Lac du Bonnet. Environmental appeals related to the construction of a new tailings plant can now be dismissed by Manitoba's Environment and Climate Change minister. The mine operates on the northwest shore of Bernic Lake, 180 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg. Mining at the property began in the 1920s, with tin. Now it produces tantalum, cesium and lithium. Tanco filed an Environment Act proposal on Nov. 9, 2023 to build a mill producing 3,000 tonnes per day. The proposal advertised in newspapers raised concerns in the area, including some from the Bird River Cottage Owners Association. The association's written submission to the province said a project 'of this magnitude' shouldn't be approved until more is known about the reprocessing operation. The cottage owners also expressed concern about increased traffic, safety, noise, impacts to environment, wildlife and water. 'Residents and cottage owners that have enjoyed the natural beauty of Bird River for the last several decades should be able to continue to do so safely, and peacefully for decades to come,' said the association, which did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday. There were 49 submissions during the public review period, and most were related to traffic, road safety and water quality — issues that were addressed during the environmental assessment and licensing process, the cabinet order issued earlier this month said. After Tanco received its Environment Act licence on Aug. 27, four appeals were submitted to the minister, the order in council said. The appeals were 'similar to those raised during the public review period and were addressed during the environmental assessment process through licensing conditions.' It authorized the minister, Moyes, to dismiss them. 'Manitoba's environmental protections are strong, which is why concerns raised by Manitobans and experts were directly addressed through licensing conditions for this project,' the minister said in a prepared statement Tuesday. Wednesdays What's next in arts, life and pop culture. 'We know Manitobans want a healthy environment for their children and our government is committed to protecting our environment for generations to come.' The way Environment Act appeals can be dismissed shows the process is 'broken,' said Eric Reder with the Wilderness Committee. Although the public review process for Environment Act licence proposals is transparent, with comments and concerns posted online, that is not the case with appeals, Reder said. Once a licence has been issued, the public is kept in the dark about appeals, with no explanation of concerns raised or any conditions imposed to ensure they're addressed, the wilderness advocate said. 'The government really has to show their work on this,' said Reder, who said he has no issues with the Tanco mine operation, other than the way the appeals were dismissed by cabinet decree. He called on the Kinew government to commit to establishing a 'robust' environmental appeals process that is transparent and accountable. Carol SandersLegislature reporter Carol Sanders is a reporter at the Free Press legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. Read more about Carol. Every piece of reporting Carol produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
CTV News
29-07-2025
- CTV News
Four offshore wind energy areas designated off Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston (centre) makes an announcement about offshore wind energy in Halifax on July 29, 2025. (Callum Smith/CTV Atlantic) The Nova Scotia government says Canada's first four offshore wind energy areas have been designated on the province's offshore. The federal and provincial governments jointly designated the following four areas, which were announced on Tuesday: French Bank Middle Bank Sable Island Bank Sydney Bight The province says the designation is a key step in developing the offshore wind industry. 'With some of the top wind speeds in the world, Nova Scotia has the potential to become a clean energy superpower,' said Premier Tim Houston in a news release. 'With the right infrastructure, we'll have the opportunity to send our wind west to power other parts of Canada. By becoming an energy exporter, we can secure long-term prosperity for Nova Scotians.' A regional assessment initially identified eight areas with strong potential for offshore wind. After further review, the federal and provincial governments shortlisted five locations as possible offshore wind energy areas. The government says public feedback on those five proposed areas helped it decide on which four locations to designate, and to make the French Bank and Sydney Bight areas slightly smaller. Offshore wind energy areas in N.S. Canada's first four offshore wind energy areas are seen in this image (Province of Nova Scotia) The next step is identifying parcels within the designated areas, which will be included in the first call for bids later this year. 'The identification of wind energy areas off the coast of Nova Scotia is a significant step forward towards unlocking our renewable energy potential,' said federal Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson. 'We are moving quickly to deliver on our commitment to advance offshore wind, create clean jobs and support our long-term energy security.' The province hopes to license five gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030, which is says will 'set the stage for future offshore wind development and position Nova Scotia to become an exporter of clean energy.' After the first round of licences are awarded, the government will revisit four other areas identified in the regional assessment of offshore wind development. Those areas include the Western/Emerald Bank, which was the other area shortlisted in the spring. Private companies that wish to build offshore wind projects in Nova Scotia are required to participate in a competitive licensing process managed by the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
