The Provincial Government is assuming custody and
management of the former pulp and paper mill and
property in Grand Falls-Windsor, as well as Grand Falls
House and the former mill manager's house, upon notice
that Abitibi is handing the assets over to the province.
Through the passage of Bill 75 on December 16, 2008,
the Provincial Government revoked timber and water
rights from Abitibi. When determining which
assets/properties to expropriate, the Provincial
Government included power-related infrastructure and the
hydroelectric facility attached to the mill itself.
Language to exempt the mill and the other two properties
on Reid Lot #59 was not included in the final bill, as
intended, and therefore the Provincial Government has
legal title to these properties.
"When drafting Bill 75, we erred on the side of
caution to ensure that the hydroelectric facility
attached to the mill was included in the expropriation,"
said the Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Acting Premier and
Minister of Natural Resources. "By not including
descriptive language to specifically exempt these other
properties, the province assumed legal ownership of
them. Government has no plans for the properties at this
time while legal processes associated with Abitibi's
assets and responsibilities in this province are
ongoing."
Abitibi had been taking care of the security of these
assets and environmental monitoring since the pulp and
paper mill ceased operation in March 2009. Abitibi was
ordered to provide an environmental remediation plan and
the company is appealing this order and others related
to the remediation of their former assets in the
province. These orders were made by the Minister of
Environment and Conservation under the Environmental
Protection Act. Their appeal is currently under
review by the Minister of Environment and Conservation.
The company formally notified the Provincial
Government on February 2 that it was vacating the
buildings.
"Now that Abitibi has decided to withdraw from the
province, it is incumbent upon the Provincial Government
to maintain the status quo of the buildings to ensure
that public safety and the environment are protected and
maintained," said Acting Premier Dunderdale. "Our taking
custody and management of these buildings at this time
no way reduces, eliminates or mitigates any
responsibilities Abitibi may have in respect to
remediation or environmental liabilities. While the
legal issues around these properties unfold, the
Provincial Government will ensure these assets are
secure and do not become a risk to public safety or to
the environment."