08 August 2006

This mill will not close!

"Expropriation is still an option for the provincial government if it finds another operator for Abitibi-Consolidated's soon-to-be-shuttered paper mill in Stephenville, Premier Danny Williams says."

That was the lede for a Rob Antle story in Telegram last December.

Here's the latest plan for the Stephenville mill, as announced today in the environmental assessment bulletin issued by the provincial government:

(2) Stephenville Paper Mill Site Decommissioning (Reg. 1281)
Proponent: Abitibi-Consolidated Company of Canada

The proponent proposes to decommission and rehabilitate the pulp and paper mill site in Stephenville. The infrastructure and physical features to be decommissioned include: the main pulp and paper mill building including steam plant, maintenance shops and administration offices; paper storage sheds; effluent treatment facilities and pipelines; wood yard; industrial landfill systems on the east side of Route 490; hydrocarbon bulk fuel storage facilities; fuel and process storage tanks; water and sewage systems; transformers and other electrical equipment, etc. A summary of the Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) Phase I work is also included. The decommissioning of the site is scheduled to commence in 2006 and is tentatively scheduled to be completed by 2008. The undertaking was registered on August 7, 2006; public comments are due by September 12, 2006: and, the minister's decision is due by September 21, 2006.

The minister encourages all interested parties to become involved and to make comments known. Comments on submitted documents are invited from the public, addressed in writing to the minister, and are welcome prior to the deadline date shown.
How quickly they forget.