Fishermen, politicians discuss proposed Boat Harbour treatment facility

A meeting held in New Glasgow, N.S., Sunday morning gave fishermen's associations a chance to express concerns about a proposed waste water treatment plant the Northern Pulp Mill could be building.

The companyhas not yet sent a formal proposal to the province, but it must secure environmental approvals and build a neweffluent treatment facility plant by January 2020.

"We heard some real concerns," said Central Nova MPSeanFraser, who was at the meeting. "The fishermen are obviously interested in protecting the local fishery, as am I. There was a lot of people who were emotionally connected to the industry because it's their livelihood and was the livelihood of generations before them."

Northern Pulp's initial planwould see mill waste water, up to 75,000 cubic metres daily, handled through anactivated sludge treatment system. The effluent would be aerated and settled in a large tank on the mill property.

Treated effluent would then be sent to a new submerged marine outflow for discharge into the Northumberland Strait.

'They're in for a battle'

Prior to the meeting, RonaldHeighton, the president of theNorthumberlandFishermen's Association, said he hoped the government officials which included the Nova ScotiaEnvironment MinisterIainRankin, PCPictouWest MLAKarlaMacFarlaneandFraser would offer more insight into Northern Pulp's proposal.

"Unless they're going to build something the fishermen can accept, they're in for a battle," saidHeighton, who was unable to attend the meeting due to a prior commitment.

"It's a large volume of fresh water they release. How and when and where they're going to release it is what we want to know and of course we want to know the contents of what's coming out of it too," saidHeighton.

Closed meeting

Rankinsent CBCa statement saying the environment is his "main focus."

"I was pleased to have the opportunity to attend this important meeting with the community and stakeholders today and hear their concerns. Any decisions made will be based on science," the statement said.