Leaking wastewater pipe under investigation at Nova Scotia pulp mill

A Northern Resources Nova Scotia Corporation pulp mill is shown from the air this undated handout photo released on March 30, 2011. (THE CANADIAN PRESS)

ABERCROMBIE POINT, N.S. - Nova Scotia's environment minister says officials continue to investigate what triggered the leak of wastewater at the Northern Pulp mill and how much of it spilled.

Randy Delorey says Environment Canada and the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans are also investigating.

He says Northern Pulp has hired Stantec Consulting to develop a plan for cleaning up the spill.

The mill in Abercrombie Point shut down operations after it discovered the problem Monday.

Members of the Pictou Landing First Nation began protesting after learning wastewater was spilling into wetlands and the nearby East River.

The river is about six kilometres from their community.

Chief Andrea Paul says the protest will continue until the province and the mill commit to closing the effluent treatment plant in Boat Harbour.

The provincial government has said it is committed to the cleanup of the Boat Harbour site, but it needs more information on what's in the waterway.