South Carolina New Indy Paper Mill Reached Settlement over Environmental Concerns

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): According to media reports, New-Indy Containerboard has reached settlement with authorities and around 6,000 nearby residents over environmental concerns. The company has agreed to pay $103 million towards settlement of claims from a class action lawsuit.

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The residents have been involved in their fight against the mill, which according to them has been taking no action to fix its smelly and toxic gas release over the past three years. The agreement reached Wednesday will now require approval from the U.S District Court of South Carolina.

As per terms of the settlement, New-Indy would pay $18 million to residents towards claims, attorney fees and other expenses. In addition, it has agreed to carry out remedial actions valued at $85 million, which includes installation of a steam stripper and cover for the lagoon.

Meantime, some residents raised concerns over the settlement terms, citing that there is no time frame on the fixes.

New-Indy Containerboard had purchased Resolute’s Catawba, S.C. paper mill in 2018. The DHEC began receiving odor complaints from citizens in York and Lancaster counties and bordering areas of North Carolina by 2021. WCNC Charlotte started receiving news tips complaining about a "rotten-egg smell". Investigations by DHEC and WCNC authorities had concluded that the smell is coming from the New-Indy Containerboard Facility.