PICTOU, N.S. — Fishermen affected by a proposed pulp mill effluent pipe in the Northumberland Strait say they have waited long enough for information they requested from the company.
A fishermen’s working group, representing fishermen from Nova Scotia, P.E.I. and New Brunswick, is concerned that Northern Pulp (NPNS) has not replied to their written request to share completed reports and studies relating to the company’s proposed new effluent treatment facility.
“We emailed Northern Pulp over a week ago, requesting that they send us all completed studies and reports within seven calendar days,” says Jamie Simpson, lawyer for the group, which is based in Pictou, N.S.
“To date, we have not received a response.”
For nearly two years fishermen have wanted to know what will be in the treated effluent Pictou-based plant hopes to discharge into the Northumberland Strait.
“Northern Pulp says their focus report is 90 per cent finished, but they have not yet shared any of this information with fishermen or the public… If Northern Pulp now has that information, we are asking that they provide it to us,” says Simpson.
The most recent letter requested to see the marine route proposed by NPNS, the exact location where treated effluent would be discharged and the revised receiving water study, including related survey information.
“This information is critical to understanding the potential impacts on the Northumberland Strait,” says Simpson.
The effluent project will be subject to the federal Fisheries Act including revised and improved protections for fish and fish habitat that went into effect on Aug. 28, 2019.
“Our organizations were very pleased to see these protections restored,” says Allan MacCarthy of the Northumberland Fishermen’s Association.
“We are interested to see how the additional protections are addressed by Northern Pulp.”
The fishermen’s letter quoted the focus report set by Nova Scotia Environment for Northern Pulp, which encouraged continuous communication.
“…It is strongly recommended that NPNS continues to engage with relevant stakeholders and the Mi’kmaq including Pictou Landing First Nation, and to share relevant studies and reports.”
Northern Pulp has stated that it will be ready to file the information required by the focus report by late September 2019. Northern Pulp’s website lists many required reports and studies as completed.
“There is a tremendous amount of information requested in the focus report. Allowing stakeholders more than the minimum 30 days to read and evaluate the large volume of information which Northern Pulp is assembling would make for a better process, and hopefully a better outcome,” says Simpson. “It appears that Nova Scotia Environment recognized this by recommending NPNS share information during the preparation of the focus report.”
The four-kilometre marine route for the effluent pipe submitted by Northern Pulp in January 2019 ran through a protected area for juvenile lobster as well as other species.
