Crown biomass available in Miramichi

Aug. 13, 2010, Miramichi, NB – The government of New Brunswick is making Crown
wood available to support three forestry initiatives in the Miramichi region. The
provincial government’s plans entail:

• Issuing a request
  for proposals (RFP) for about 230,000 cubic metres of Crown wood to support job
  creation in the Miramichi region (RFP available at www.gnb.ca/0078/RFP-e.pdf);
• Providing
  a Crown wood allocation to the former Weyerhaeuser oriented strand board (OSB)
  mill if the Miramichi mill is sold and reopened; and
• Increasing by about
  30% the Crown wood allocation assigned to the former Atcon plywood mill in
  Miramichi to facilitate its sale to a new owner.

The RFP for Crown wood has been issued. Interested parties have until October 12, 2010, to submit
preliminary proposals. Thereafter, qualifying candidates will have 120 days to
submit detailed business and financial plans.

"This Crown allocation will be available to an existing or new wood processing facility
located within the boundaries of the Northumberland County Forest Products
Marketing Board," says Premier Shawn Graham. "Submissions will be
evaluated in large part on the number of jobs to be created in the region, as
well as other benefits to the Miramichi such as the purchase of additional wood
from private woodlot owners."

The allocation will consist of Crown biomass material and sawmill residue, primarily bark.

In addition, Graham says that the provincial government is aware of a number of potential buyers
for the OSB and plywood mills. The government is prepared to provide a Crown
wood allocation to each mill that is larger than the allocation available to
the previous operators. He notes that the forest industry on the Miramichi has
been rebounding recently, including the reopening of Miramichi Lumber Products
(formerly Newcastle Lumber Co.).

"Our government supported the reopening of Miramichi Lumber through the allocation of additional
Crown wood," says Graham. "Forestry has always been a mainstay of the
Miramichi economy, and we are using local Crown wood to ensure this industry
continues to provide jobs for Miramichiers."