FREDERICTON (GNB) – The provincial government will issue a new Class 1 air quality approval to Lake Utopia Paper, near St. George, to operate its pulp and paper mill. The company's current approval expires Dec. 12.
Lake Utopia Paper is a pulp and paper mill commissioned in 1971 as Fundy Forest Products. J.D. Irving Ltd. bought the mill in 1973 and has operated it since as Lake Utopia Paper. The mill manufactures corrugating medium from a mixture of two fibre types. Using the neutral sulphite semi-chemical pulping process, recycled cardboard and the corrugating paper machine, the plant produces about 516 tonnes per day of finished corrugating medium.
“Monitoring the air quality in New Brunswick helps us to better understand the sources, movements and effects of various substances in the air we breathe,” said Environment and Climate Change Minister Gary Crossman. “This facility meets the requirements of the Air Quality Regulation of the Clean Air Act, and I am pleased to issue this facility a five-year operating approval.”
The renewal follows a public consultation exercise, which included a 120-day public review held between Dec. 10, 2019 and Oct. 13, 2020.
Documentation supporting the review included a facility profile, draft and intended approvals, as well as summaries of issues raised and responses to those issues as applicable. This information may be viewed at regional offices of the Department of Environment and Local Government or on the department's website. Approval conditions are also available on the website.
12-11-20