KINGSPORT — The Kingsport Board of Mayor and Aldermen received an update from Domtar on their odor mitigation efforts during a recent work session.
Charlie Floyd, vice president of strategic capital projects for Domtar, presented on Domtar’s new anaerobic digester wastewater treatment system, which he said will help eliminate odors from the mill’s existing lagoon once it is fully operational.
The project is expected to be completed by October or November 2026.
“It’s being designed in partnership with Isomer and Veolia, with Wheeling Contractors managing site work and installation,†Floyd said.
Since securing over 20 permits earlier this summer, crews have begun demolition, grading, and foundation work on the backside of the mill property, where the old wood pile and truck dump were located.
The project includes nine large tanks, together providing about 7 million gallons of storage capacity. Effluent from mill operations will be routed into the new anaerobic digester, followed by a secondary aerobic treatment step to “polish†the effluent before it is discharged.
“This system will replace the existing lagoon, which has been the primary source of odor,†Floyd said. “Once operational, we expect those odor issues to go away.â€
The system will also capture biogas as a byproduct, which can be cleaned and used to fuel the mill’s boiler system. Floyd said the project is modeled after other OCC recycling mills in the U.S., which operate without odor complaints.
He said Domtar has not yet decided what to do with the 12-foot-deep existing lagoon, which will no longer be used once the new system is running.
Alderwoman Betsy Cooper asked whether the odor will gradually improve as construction progresses.
“I can say that as the fall and winter come and temperatures cool, it’s not going to be as big of an issue,†Floyd said. “But I can’t guarantee it will be better next summer than this summer. We’re working as hard as we can to get it done as quickly as possible.â€
Alderman Cooper also asked why the odor is worse on some days versus others.
Floyd said Domtar didn’t have a specific answer but that weather could play a role.
“We’ve noticed that on hotter days the smell can worsen and also if there’s still air thats not moving,†Floyd said.
The new system will process 3 to 4 million gallons of effluent per day, Floyd said, and the design includes both anaerobic and aerobic treatment to ensure maximum efficiency and odor control.
“We actually went to a mill in Henderson, Kentucky, and the people there had no issues with odor,†Floyd said. “That gives us confidence that this system will work for Kingsport.â€
At peak construction, Domtar expects around 150 skilled workers on site. Key upcoming milestones include the start of concrete pile caps on Oct. 27, 2025, followed by tank erection beginning Nov. 17, 2025.
“We’re going to have over four miles of piping in this project and nearly 20 miles of electrical and instrumentation wiring,†Floyd said.
Floyd also noted the project is being financed in part through a $60 million tax exempt bond through the state.
He emphasized that stormwater management and permitting with TDEC were critical steps to begin construction.
“The city has been very helpful in expediting this project,†Floyd said. “We’re just at the mercy of TDEC and EPA for final approvals on some aspects, but we’re moving as fast as possible.â€
Other business
The board approved several items at it’s Tuesday’s regular business meeting including the renaming of Riverview Park to Jack Pierce Sr. Park at Riverview.
Pierce, who passed away Jan. 23, 2025, was an important figure in Riverview’s history and a longtime advocate for the community.
Kingsport Mayor Paul Montgomery called Pierce an icon.
Alderman Darrell Duncan described him as someone many turned to for advice.
“He was a very quiet man who didn’t seek the spotlight. He would probably be sitting back saying, ‘What are you doing?’ But I think it’s very, very appropriate,†Duncan said.
The resolution states that the city will create new signage and add interpretive displays to highlight Pierce’s contributions, the park’s history and the greater Riverview community.
The board also approved the first reading of an ordinance to rezone about 8.3 acres along Blakley Drive from residential to agricultural use.
The change would allow the land to be used for a private recreational area with about four cabin and RV sites.
According to the ordinance, the change in zoning “will not create significant noise, traffic, or visual disruption, thereby preserving the area’s residential character.â€
Another zoning ordinance approved now allows churches and other religious assemblies in the city’s industrial and mixed-use zoning districts.
Planning Manager Ken Weems said currently, religious assembly is allowed in general business zones and permitted by special exception in residential areas.
He said adding the use in M-1, M-1R, and MX districts would not conflict with existing industrial or mixed-use activities.