Northern Pulp mill water usage examined by 3rd party

The Nova Scotia government has hired independent experts to evaluate claims made by the Northern Pulp paper mill that water limits placed on it by the province are unachievable.

The provincial government ordered the Pictou County mill to cut its water usage by more than 34 per cent.

That was part of a five-year provincial industrial approval or IA that was issued in January.

Northern Pulp said that is unachievable and appealed to the courts and to the province.

The government is examining the company's concerns over the new water limits.

"The company submitted additional information," said Environment Minister Andrew Younger.

"During that time we've contracted outside expertise to do a third party review of that. That data and those reviews will all be coming back to me in the next few weeks. Whatever decisions we're looking at will also be discussed with Pictou Landing First Nation."

Younger said his department's review is nearing an end.

The discussions so far have been positive, accordingto the mill's general manager Bruce Chapman.

"We expect the IA to be finalized shortly. We still have our court, we've appealed to the [Nova Scotia] Supreme Court. Thatstill stands, but we are hoping to solve this without actually going to court."

Chapman also expects a government decision within weeks.