Tourism operators pleased Northern Pulp will reduce their stink

Northern Pulp in Nova Scotia has decided to invest $5 million in new equipment that reduce their pulp mill smell from impacting the tourism operators in the town of Pictou.

The new equipment will capture the sulphur gas component of emissions, and incinerate it.

Company spokesman, Don Breen, believes the investment will cut the smell by about 70% within 2 years.

Tourism operators in Pictou are ecstatic. Mike Emmett, proprietor of the Braeside Inn, said pulp mill emissions have a "tremendous effect" on his business. He said about 10 times a year, when the wind is from the south, the emissions of the mill hit his Inn full on, and have caused guests to cancel their stay and leave.

The mayor of Pictou, Joe Hawes, said the pulp mill's smell has a negative effect on property values and real estate sales as well as the tourist industry, and is probably not good for people’s health.

Others are raising concerns that the water by the mill, Boat Harbour, has yet to be cleaned up.

The Pictou Landing First Nation had been meeting regularly with representatives from Northern Pulp and the Nova Scotia provincial government, to find a way to clean up and close the mill's effluent treatment facility at Boat Harbour. They were disappointed Northern Pulp did not announce an investment into the cleanup of the water.

Source:

Pulp mill to cut sulphur odour - $5-million plan not soon enough for tourism operators in Pictou area (Chronicle Herald)