Northern Pulp glyphosate spray delayed pending Environment Department response

Northern Pulp will not begin spraying glyphosate in Halifax and Colchester counties, for now.

The company has applied to spray an herbicide on private Northern Timber land, starting August 25. However, a spokesperson with the company confirmed it has not received permission from the Department of the Environment as of Friday.

"This is one of the reasons we set up notification for on or after August 25," said Kathy Cloutier, the communications manager for Northern Pulp. 

The herbicide is called VisionMax and is designed to kill young leafy hardwoods. Those trees can out-compete the young softwood trees considered more desirable for forestry.

A compound in VisionMax called glyphosate has been controversial, with many residents saying they do not want the spraying conducted at all. Cloutier said the chemical has been studied and found to be safe.

"Glyphosate has been approved for use in Canada since 1987," she said. "It is more widely used in agriculture than in forestry. And quite frankly it is one of the most extensively studied herbicides of all time. So in light of this, this is why we've chosen to go with this product," she said. 

Cloutier said the areas to be sprayed in Halifax and Colchester counties are very remote and not near any homes or businesses.