News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – The provincial government will issue a new Class 1 air quality approval for JDI Lake Utopia Paper.

The company's current approval expires on June 11, with the new approval taking effect on June 12. The approval follows a public consultation process that included a 120-day public review that ran from Sept. 5, 2014 to Jan. 5, 2015.

Lake Utopia Paper is a pulp and paper mill located 6.5 km east of St. George. The mill manufactures corrugating medium from a mixture of two fibre types. The primary component is virgin fibre produced by the neutral sulphite semi-chemical (NSSC) pulping process from hardwood chips. The remainder is made from recycled cardboard.

The mill facility was initially commissioned in 1971 and operated as Fundy Forest Products. J.D. Irving Ltd. purchased the mill in 1973 and has operated it since as Lake Utopia Paper. Using the NSSC pulping process, recycled cardboard, and the corrugating paper machine, the plant produces about 507 tonnes per day of finished corrugating medium.

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.

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.