Nova Scotia’s environment minister silent on shuttered Pictou County mill cleanup

Nova Scotia’s environment minister is being tight-lipped on the cleanup plan for the shuttered Northern Pulp mill site in Pictou County.

Tim Halman would only tell reporters on Thursday that there are “a lot of moving parts” and he would have more to say at a future date.

The insolvent mill is under creditor protection and it’s unclear whether there will be enough money left over to decontaminate the site if the mill has to file for bankruptcy.

Halman says he hasn’t seen a cost estimate for the cleanup of the site, which used to produce bleached kraft pulp — an ingredient for paper.

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In an emailed response, an Environment Department spokeswoman says the creditor protection process has to wrap up before it is determined who is legally responsible for the mill cleanup.

Cindy Porter says the reclamation of the site can begin once closure details are finalized.