News Release Archive
SUPPLY&SERVICES--BOAT HARBOUR FACILITY TRANSFERRED
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The Nova Scotia Department of Supply and Services and
Kimberly-Clark Nova Scotia (formerly Scott Maritimes Ltd.)
have signed an agreement to transfer the Boat Harbour
effluent treatment facility from the province to
Kimberly-Clark, Supply and Services Minister Gerald O'Malley
and Kimberly-Clark President and General Manager Gerry Byrne
announced today.
On Jan. 1, 1996, Kimberly-Clark assumed full operating
responsibility and costs from the province. The company has
also agreed to stop using the facility by Dec. 31, 2005. The
province will complete system improvements and clean-up
activities which were begun in 1994. These include the
construction of an on-site landfill to handle sludge, clean
out of the facility treatment basins and improvements to the
aeration system.
The province will save $1 million a year in operating costs
with the transfer, Mr. O'Malley said.
After appropriate consultations, the province will consider
lowering the water level around Boat Harbour to its original
level. Mr. O'Malley said this action means that a proposed
pipeline to carry effluent into the Northumberland Strait
will not be built. He added that the Pictou Landing Band
lands that had been subject to the high water will be
cleaned up by the province as soon as possible.
Mr. O'Malley said the province's goals at the beginning of
negotiations with the company were to get out of the
effluent treatment business, to eliminate the need for a
pipeline, and to ensure the eventual shut down of the
facility. "I'm very pleased that these goals have been met,"
he said. "Now we can start planning the long-term
environmental remediation of Boat Harbour, in consultation
with the band and other stakeholders."
Gerry Byrne of Kimberly-Clark Nova Scotia said he felt the
agreement was fair to both parties. "The 10-year operating
term will enable us to continue in-plant improvements, which
have a direct impact on the cleanliness of the effluent," he
said. "It also allows time for us to evaluate emerging
technologies and plan for an efficient system to eventually
replace Boat Harbour.
"We are now pushing to have the Boat Harbour system
improvements in place as soon as possible to ensure
government regulations continue to be met."
Mr. O'Malley said the Pictou Landing Band Council were kept
abreast of developments throughout the negotiations and
"consultation with the council was an important factor
leading to this agreement." He said the province will lead
the long-term site remediation and looks forward to working
with the band and such community organizations as the Pictou
Harbour Environmental Protection Project, Citizens Against
Pollution and local fishermen in the remediation planning.
As part of the agreement to establish the Scott Maritimes
pulp mill, the Nova Scotia government agreed in 1970 to
treat the mill's wastewater effluent for a minimum of 25
years. The key elements of the new agreement were agreed to
prior to the recent merger of Scott Paper Company and
Kimberly-Clark Corporation.
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Contact: David MacNeil
Supply and Services
902-424-2933
Jack Kyte
Kimberly-Clark Nova Scotia
902-755-5404 ext. 134
trp Jan. 12, 1996
