KINGSPORT — Domtar’s odor mitigation plans remain on track going into the winter months, Kingsport Mill Manager Troy Wilson shared at Tuesday’s economic development board meeting.
While permitting and other parts of the long-term plan are being approved, Wilson said changes with the wastewater treatment system and added dredging have yielded positive results so far.
“We found that this combination is working for us,†Wilson said. “This is a combination we’re going to stick with. We don’t have anything else on the horizon to do. We feel like we’re in control now, so we’ll continue down that path at the same time we’ll work on the project.â€
Dredging
He said since the dredging started on Nov. 23 there have only been a few complaints “here and there,†but overall there’s been a positive response.
Wilson said Domtar will begin transporting sludge from the lagoon to the landfill this week. Domtar is using a dredging boat, which pulls the sludge up from the lagoon to later be dried out for transportation.
Scheduling remains a priority for Domtar, Wilson said, and a part of the company’s implementation process. He said Domtar met with the city to keep key dates in mind during odor mitigation efforts.
“I know we have a parade coming up on Saturday, so that’s on our radar,†he said. “So we know the schedule, so you know that I’m aware. We have an ‘abort’ plan as well. So we find that we have issues if things aren’t going like they should, we will back up, reassess and come up with a better plan.â€
Dredging is scheduled to continue through mid-January.
Project Bandit
Plans for the anaerobic digester project, also known as Project Bandit, are being refined and reviewed, according to Tuesday’s presentation.
The air permit application for the project is currently under review by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. Permit conditions must be accepted by TDEC before any construction work can begin, according to Domtar’s latest presentation to the board.
Equipment and construction contracts are being reviewed by Domtar’s legal team ahead of permit approval. Domtar also shared in Tuesday’s presentation the financial team is working to ensure the project meets all necessary requirements for a Tax-Exempt Bond application.
A $60.5 million preliminary bond resolution was approved by the KEDB at the November meeting, which was an increase from the previously proposed $55 million.
Domtar announced its $1 million project investment in July 2024, which would bring an anaerobic digester to the mill as a long-term solution to odor mitigation. The digester would convert a majority of the organics currently used in the wastewater treatment system to biogas to fuel the mill’s boilers.
If all stays on schedule, the modified/alternative wastewater system could be running by the last quarter of 2025 or the first quarter of 2026.
The next KEBD meeting will be held at 10 a.m. on Jan. 7, 2025, in the Eastman Board Room, located at the Kingsport Chamber.
