Northern Pulp in Abercrombie, Nova Scotia, ordered to lower its sulfur, particulate emissions; mill GM attributes sulfur emissions problem to equipment installed in 2012, will seek to optimize that equipment, might add new precipitator for particulates

Debra Garcia

ABERCROMBIE, Nova Scotia , March 22, 2013 (Canadian Press DataFile) – A pulp mill in Nova Scotia's Pictou County has been ordered to reduce its sulphur and particulate emissions.

The order for Northern Pulp in Abercrombie comes from the provincial Environment Department.

Department district official Penny McLeod says the mill has been asked to complete an engineering study for the recovery boiler, air pollution control equipment.

It also has to provide a reduction implementation schedule by Sept. 30.

McLeod says Northern Pulp is still required to meet compliance limits in the months leading up to the Sept. 30 deadline.

Don Breen, acting general manager of Northern Pulp, says the mill installed new equipment last year, which is the root of the problem of excessive sulphur emissions.

Breen says to fix the problem, the mill will be optimizing its new equipment and will look at a new "state of the art" precipitator that takes the particulate out of the stack.

McLeod said the department found out Northern Pulp was exceeding acceptable sulphur emissions when the mill reported it to them.

She also said sulphur emissions are regulated by Nova Scotia Environment because of its foul odour.

The Pictou County Watershed Coalition released a statement Monday calling for a comprehensive audit of the most recent government grant given to Northern Pulp worth $28 million for its Green Transformation Program.

(New Glasgow News)

(c) 2013 The Canadian Press

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