News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – The provincial government will issue a new Class 1 air quality approval for the AV Cell Inc. Atholville Pulp Mill.

The company's current approval expires on Dec. 31, 2014, with the new approval taking effect on Jan. 1, 2015. The approval follows a public consultation process that included a 120-day public review that ran from June 26 to Oct. 27.

The information, along with approval conditions, can be viewed on the Department of Environment and Local Government website or at any regional office of the department.

The pulp mill currently produces about 400 air-dry tonnes per day of dissolving grade pulp. This pulp is a critical input for Aditya Birla Group’s Viscose Staple Fibre business which produces fibre for use in the rayon textile and non-woven fibre industries. While AV Cell no longer operates a conventional wood room at the Atholville mill, a portable debarking unit and chipping plant was brought onto the site in November 2003 to supplement the supply of purchased chips. The portable plant processes about 75,000 tonnes per year of hardwood logs. Bark produced by the portable plant is burned in AV Cell’s wood-waste boiler along with purchased hog-fuel.

Class 1 major industries are required to comply with the Air Quality Regulation under the Clean Air Act, and to operate under the terms and conditions established in the approval to operate.