Home / Environment / Nova Scotia Weighs New Sludge Site
Nova Scotia Weighs New Sludge Site
18 Jun
Summary
- Government and First Nation discuss alternative storage for pulp mill sludge.
- Sludge cleanup is delayed due to site dispute and environmental concerns.
- The current cleanup budget stands at $425 million.
Officials in Nova Scotia are in active discussions with Pictou Landing First Nation to identify an alternative location for contaminated sludge removed from Boat Harbour. This process is part of the extensive cleanup of the former tidal estuary, which was used for decades as a treatment site for a nearby pulp mill. The Northern Pulp mill closed in 2020, and its remediation has been significantly delayed.
The province has received federal approval for an on-site hazardous waste containment facility. However, this approval included a condition to explore alternative sites in collaboration with Pictou Landing First Nation. The First Nation opposes the current proposed storage site due to land claims and concerns about long-term risks and the perpetuation of environmental racism.
Public Works Minister Fred Tilley stated that technical assessments are underway to determine the viability of a potential new site, emphasizing that details will not be disclosed until viability is confirmed to avoid causing undue worry or false hope. The current cleanup budget is $425 million, and any cost increases due to an alternative site would likely lead to negotiations with the federal government for additional support. Chief Tamara Young has previously suggested the former mill site at Abercrombie Point as a preferable alternative.
