CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — More study of Northern Pulp’s pipeline plan is needed before it gets approval, says a spokeswoman for a group opposed to the project.
Jill Graham-Scanlan, who is with the Friends of the Northumberland Strait, was one of four people who appeared before P.E.I.’s agriculture and fisheries committee Friday to discuss their opposition to the pipeline.
Northern Pulp registered its project this week with Nova Scotia’s Environment Department and submitted more than 1,700 pages of environmental assessment documents.
Graham-Scanlan said that after a cursory view of the documents, it appears more study needs to be done.
“That suggests to me that the proposal was submitted prematurely,” she said.
Northern Pulp has to decommission its effluent treatment facility in Boat Harbour after the Nova Scotia government set a Jan. 31, 2020, deadline.
Its replacement plan involves installing a biological sludge treatment facility and pumping millions of litres of effluent into the Northumberland Strait.
Northern Pulp says its plan will not have a significant environmental impact.
A 30-day public comment period is now underway.
“In my line of work and with our environment the way it is, that’s not a suitable answer.”
-Dennis McGee
Northern Pulp has said it will have to shut down, at least temporarily, if the plan isn’t approved.
Friday’s meeting was the second in a week the committee held to discuss the proposed plan for the pulp mill
Graham-Scanlan called the provincial review a fast-tracked assessment and she called for MLAs to continue seeking a federal environmental assessment.
Dennis McGee with the Northumberland Fishermen’s Association told the committee that fishermen in his area have taken conservation measures into their own hands.
“In doing so we’re contributing to other areas in the Northumberland Strait,” he said.
McGee said he fishes about 15 kilometres away from where the plant’s outflow will be in the strait.
“It concerns me that the effects of the effluent (are) going to damage our lobster fishery in the Northumberland Strait,” he said.
Another issue is the solid material that will be coming out of the pipe, which McGee said the plan’s opponents were told would just go away.
“In my line of work and with our environment the way it is, that’s not a suitable answer.”
At the end of the meetings, the MLAs agreed to send a letter to the federal fisheries and environment ministers, along with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asking for a federal environmental assessment of the pipeline project.
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