Assessment of Nova Scotia mill’s effluent plan proper according to rules:deputy
HALIFAX — A leadership candidate for Nova Scotia’s Progressive Conservatives says he believes the provincial Environment Department made a judgment call that has failed to instill public confidence in its environmental assessment process for a proposed effluent treatment plan for the Northern Pulp mill.
Tim Houston made the comment while questioning deputy environment minister Frances Martin, who appeared Wednesday before the legislature’s public accounts committee.
Houston, whose Pictou East riding neighbours the pulp mill, equated the decision to go with a Class 1 assessment with a similar decision for the Alton Gas natural gas storage project near Stewiake, which has been through the courts and has been subject to protests from environmentalists and local Mi’kmaq bands.
“Alton gas — 12 years after they did everything the department asked them to do — they haven’t started,” said Houston. “I’m worried the department is walking Northern Pulp down the same fate as Alton Gas.”