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Verso Announces Closure of Paper Mill in Luke, Maryland
Hat tip, Trainorders:
Eastern Railroad Discussion > RIP Luke...
Date: 04/30/19 09:02
RIP Luke...
Author: Rivannaco
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/verso-announces-closure-of-paper-mill-in-luke-maryland-300839995.html
Date: 04/30/19 09:02
RIP Luke...
Author: Rivannaco
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/verso-announces-closure-of-paper-mill-in-luke-maryland-300839995.html
Verso Announces Closure of Paper Mill in Luke, Maryland
Closure Will Reduce Verso's Annual Coated Freesheet Production Capacity by Approximately 450,000 Tons
NEWS PROVIDED BY
Verso Corporation
Apr 30, 2019, 07:30 ET
MIAMISBURG, Ohio, April 30, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Verso Corporation (NYSE: VRS) today announced it will permanently close its paper mill in Luke, Maryland, in response to the continuing decline in customer demand for the grades of coated freesheet paper produced at the mill, along with rising input costs, a significant influx of imports, and rising compliance costs and infrastructure challenges associated with recent environmental regulation changes. The closure, which is expected to be complete by June 30, will reduce Verso's coated freesheet production capacity by approximately 450,000 tons, reducing total annual paper production capacity to approximately 2.7 million tons.
"It is unfortunate that we had to make the decision to close the Luke Mill, but the continuing decline in demand for the grades of paper manufactured there left us no choice but to close this facility that has struggled with profitability for a number of years," said Verso Interim Chief Executive Officer Leslie T. Lederer. "The company explored the possibility of producing alternate grades of paper products but the conclusion remained the same – we could not achieve profitability at the mill in today's market environment. Consistently matching the supply of our graphic paper products with customer demand for these products, reducing our costs and rapidly diversifying our product portfolio into growing markets remain essential drivers for Verso's long-term success, and we continue to vigorously pursue these objectives."
Most of the Luke Mill's paper grades are already qualified to be produced on other Verso paper machines, and the company is working to assure all customer needs are met, according to Verso President of Graphic and Specialty Papers Michael A. Weinhold. "Because Verso is continually evaluating the best use of our highly flexible manufacturing system to assure we deliver the quality, reliability and value our customers depend on, our Luke Mill customers can remain confident in Verso's ability to meet their needs now and in the future," he said. "We will be working closely with our customers to assure they continue to receive the high quality products and exceptional service they have come to expect from Verso."
Approximately 675 employees will be impacted by the closure of the Luke Mill. Employees were notified in accordance with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act that their last day of employment with Verso is expected to be June 30. Eligible hourly employees will receive a severance allowance in accordance with local collective bargaining agreements, and the company will begin effects bargaining with the local unions soon. Salaried employees will receive a severance allowance in accordance with Verso's established severance policy. In compliance with the WARN Act, Verso sent notification of the decision to close the mill to the appropriate authorities in Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia, and will continue to work with state and local officials to help Luke Mill employees take full advantage of all available support resources.
"The decision to close this mill that has been in operation for more than 130 years was an extremely difficult one, and is in no way a reflection on the dedicated men and women who work there," Lederer said. "We know that this will be an extraordinarily emotional and challenging time for our Luke Mill team, and Verso is committed to treating them with fairness, respect and dignity during this difficult time. We will also do our utmost to ensure employee safety during the transition. I want to thank each and every member of the Luke team for their hard work and dedicated service to the mill, to Verso and to our customers."
Closure Will Reduce Verso's Annual Coated Freesheet Production Capacity by Approximately 450,000 Tons
NEWS PROVIDED BY
Verso Corporation
Apr 30, 2019, 07:30 ET
MIAMISBURG, Ohio, April 30, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Verso Corporation (NYSE: VRS) today announced it will permanently close its paper mill in Luke, Maryland, in response to the continuing decline in customer demand for the grades of coated freesheet paper produced at the mill, along with rising input costs, a significant influx of imports, and rising compliance costs and infrastructure challenges associated with recent environmental regulation changes. The closure, which is expected to be complete by June 30, will reduce Verso's coated freesheet production capacity by approximately 450,000 tons, reducing total annual paper production capacity to approximately 2.7 million tons.
"It is unfortunate that we had to make the decision to close the Luke Mill, but the continuing decline in demand for the grades of paper manufactured there left us no choice but to close this facility that has struggled with profitability for a number of years," said Verso Interim Chief Executive Officer Leslie T. Lederer. "The company explored the possibility of producing alternate grades of paper products but the conclusion remained the same – we could not achieve profitability at the mill in today's market environment. Consistently matching the supply of our graphic paper products with customer demand for these products, reducing our costs and rapidly diversifying our product portfolio into growing markets remain essential drivers for Verso's long-term success, and we continue to vigorously pursue these objectives."
Most of the Luke Mill's paper grades are already qualified to be produced on other Verso paper machines, and the company is working to assure all customer needs are met, according to Verso President of Graphic and Specialty Papers Michael A. Weinhold. "Because Verso is continually evaluating the best use of our highly flexible manufacturing system to assure we deliver the quality, reliability and value our customers depend on, our Luke Mill customers can remain confident in Verso's ability to meet their needs now and in the future," he said. "We will be working closely with our customers to assure they continue to receive the high quality products and exceptional service they have come to expect from Verso."
Approximately 675 employees will be impacted by the closure of the Luke Mill. Employees were notified in accordance with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act that their last day of employment with Verso is expected to be June 30. Eligible hourly employees will receive a severance allowance in accordance with local collective bargaining agreements, and the company will begin effects bargaining with the local unions soon. Salaried employees will receive a severance allowance in accordance with Verso's established severance policy. In compliance with the WARN Act, Verso sent notification of the decision to close the mill to the appropriate authorities in Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia, and will continue to work with state and local officials to help Luke Mill employees take full advantage of all available support resources.
"The decision to close this mill that has been in operation for more than 130 years was an extremely difficult one, and is in no way a reflection on the dedicated men and women who work there," Lederer said. "We know that this will be an extraordinarily emotional and challenging time for our Luke Mill team, and Verso is committed to treating them with fairness, respect and dignity during this difficult time. We will also do our utmost to ensure employee safety during the transition. I want to thank each and every member of the Luke team for their hard work and dedicated service to the mill, to Verso and to our customers."
Cloud lingers over MD paper mill’s impact on Potomac
Anglers, activists contend pollution, temperature in discharge hurt fish
By Rona Kobell on October 28, 2016
Upper Potomac Riverkeeper Brent Walls stands in the North Branch of the Potomac at the wastewater outfall for the Luke, MD, paper mill owned by Verso Corp. (Dave Harp)
A lit cigar in his mouth and a fly rod near his knee, Harold Harsh rows his blue raft down the North Branch of the Potomac River, past the smokestacks of the Luke paper mill in Maryland and the forlorn towns along the West Virginia bank. The water is so clear he can count the stones on the bottom — until he reaches the plant responsible for treating the paper mill’s waste.
There, the air smells like rotten eggs. The water changes to chocolate brown, bubbling up from five discharge points across the river. For more than a mile, it will remain this way, with trout skirting the cloudy effluent but not darting into it. Casting his fly outside the brown zone, Harsh’s line catches a native brook trout and then several large, silvery rainbows. Even so, the experienced guide said he doesn’t often bring paying customers here.
“You never know what it’s going to look like until you get here,” he said. “Some days it will look like this — and this is not bad — and some days it will be 10 times worse. What we’re seeing here is what they say they can’t clean out because they will go bankrupt trying to keep this water clean.”
The “they” is Verso Corp., owner of the mill, the largest employer in this part of Western Maryland, and the Westernport wastewater treatment plant, which is operated by the Upper Potomac River Commission, a regional agency whose chair is appointed by the governor.
....
As originally posted, the story misidentified which facility's permit that state regulators may review for the temperature of the discharge. It is the Luke mill's permit. The Bay Journal regrets the error.
Anglers, activists contend pollution, temperature in discharge hurt fish
By Rona Kobell on October 28, 2016
Upper Potomac Riverkeeper Brent Walls stands in the North Branch of the Potomac at the wastewater outfall for the Luke, MD, paper mill owned by Verso Corp. (Dave Harp)
A lit cigar in his mouth and a fly rod near his knee, Harold Harsh rows his blue raft down the North Branch of the Potomac River, past the smokestacks of the Luke paper mill in Maryland and the forlorn towns along the West Virginia bank. The water is so clear he can count the stones on the bottom — until he reaches the plant responsible for treating the paper mill’s waste.
There, the air smells like rotten eggs. The water changes to chocolate brown, bubbling up from five discharge points across the river. For more than a mile, it will remain this way, with trout skirting the cloudy effluent but not darting into it. Casting his fly outside the brown zone, Harsh’s line catches a native brook trout and then several large, silvery rainbows. Even so, the experienced guide said he doesn’t often bring paying customers here.
“You never know what it’s going to look like until you get here,” he said. “Some days it will look like this — and this is not bad — and some days it will be 10 times worse. What we’re seeing here is what they say they can’t clean out because they will go bankrupt trying to keep this water clean.”
The “they” is Verso Corp., owner of the mill, the largest employer in this part of Western Maryland, and the Westernport wastewater treatment plant, which is operated by the Upper Potomac River Commission, a regional agency whose chair is appointed by the governor.
....
As originally posted, the story misidentified which facility's permit that state regulators may review for the temperature of the discharge. It is the Luke mill's permit. The Bay Journal regrets the error.
Verso announces closing of Luke mill, loss of 675 jobs
Cumberland Times-News 4 hrs ago
Verso Corp. announced Tuesday that it is closing the Luke paper mill, resulting in the loss of 675 jobs.
LUKE — The Luke paper mill will be closed by June 30, resulting in a loss of 675 jobs, according to the Verso Corp. that announced the closing Tuesday on its company website.
"It is unfortunate that we had to make the decision to close the Luke Mill, but the continuing decline in demand for the grades of paper manufactured left us no choice but to close this facility that has struggled with profitability for a number of years," Verso Interim Executive Officer Leslie T. Lederer said.
Severance allowances will be made to salaried and hourly employees according to collective bargaining agreements and Verso's established severance policy, according to the announcement.
"The decision to close this mill that has been in operation for more than 130 years was an extremely difficult one, and is in no way a reflection on the dedicated men and women who work there," Lederer said. "We know that this will be an extraordinarily emotional and challenging time for our Luke Mill team, and Verso is committed to treating them with fairness, respect and dignity during this difficult time. We will also do our utmost to ensure employee safety during the transition. I want to thank each and every member of the Luke team for their hard work and dedicated service to the mill, to Verso and to our customers."
Check back for more details.
CUMBERLAND TIMES-NEWS, ctn@times-news.com
Cumberland Times-News 4 hrs ago
Verso Corp. announced Tuesday that it is closing the Luke paper mill, resulting in the loss of 675 jobs.
LUKE — The Luke paper mill will be closed by June 30, resulting in a loss of 675 jobs, according to the Verso Corp. that announced the closing Tuesday on its company website.
"It is unfortunate that we had to make the decision to close the Luke Mill, but the continuing decline in demand for the grades of paper manufactured left us no choice but to close this facility that has struggled with profitability for a number of years," Verso Interim Executive Officer Leslie T. Lederer said.
Severance allowances will be made to salaried and hourly employees according to collective bargaining agreements and Verso's established severance policy, according to the announcement.
"The decision to close this mill that has been in operation for more than 130 years was an extremely difficult one, and is in no way a reflection on the dedicated men and women who work there," Lederer said. "We know that this will be an extraordinarily emotional and challenging time for our Luke Mill team, and Verso is committed to treating them with fairness, respect and dignity during this difficult time. We will also do our utmost to ensure employee safety during the transition. I want to thank each and every member of the Luke team for their hard work and dedicated service to the mill, to Verso and to our customers."
Check back for more details.
CUMBERLAND TIMES-NEWS, ctn@times-news.com