'Worst-case scenario': Without paper mill, toxic underground plume could rise and spread in Ohio

'Worst-case scenario': Without paper mill, toxic underground plume could rise and spread in Ohio

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio (WCMH) -- In 2022, the Ohio EPA described Chillicothe's Pixelle paper mill closing as "worst-case scenario" in the fight to contain a toxic underground plume. Now, that fear is coming true. The Pixelle paper plant announced its closure in April, and its roughly 800 employees will be laid off when it closes next month. The paper plant has been a physical and economic pillar in Chillicothe since the 19th century, but Ohio EPA doc…

Pixelle Closure Raises Serious Toxic Exposure That the Company Indirectly Holds at Bay from Former WearEver Plant in Chillicothe

CHILLICOTHE, OH – The impending closure of Pixelle Specialty Solutions’ paper mill on August 10, 2025, could trigger a potential environmental crisis, unleashing toxic chemicals into the groundwater near the former WearEver Aluminum Facility in Ross County. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (