April 29, 2025 (Kingsport Times-News) –
KINGSPORT — Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation representatives have asked for an extension to review the company's permit application for its anaerobic digester, recent records show.
According to the TDEC dataviewer, Environmental Manager Doug Wright sent an email dated April 17 requesting provide a written agreement allowing the division to take final action after the original deadline of May 18.
The email states this is because of TDEC's current permitting workload, where they "can not devote sufficient time to all applications such that all of the applications are processed within the ideal timeline," according to the email.
"Based on the current status of this application, it appears that the Division will be unable to take final action on 982937 within 180 days following the complete date," the email states.
"Our permitting workload is such that we can not devote sufficient time to all applications such that all of the applications are processed within the ideal timeline."
Wright said in the email TDEC would still do its best to complete permit application prior to May 18.
Jennifer Donnals, a spokesperson for TDEC, said complete air quality permit application was received on Nov. 19, 2024.
"Per Tennessee Air Pollution Control Rules (TAPCR), the department requested a longer period to make a decision to issue or deny a request for a permit to to replace the primary components of the aerobic wastewater treatment plant system with an anaerobic system," said Donnals. " agreed [to] extend the period until June 1, 2025. Under the TAPCR, the Division of Air Pollution Control has 180 days from receipt of a complete application from a major source, unless a longer period is agreed to in writing by the applicant."
response
In a letter dated for the same day, Kingsport Mill Manager Troy Wilson replied to TDEC's request, agreeing to the extension.
"We currently don't anticipate a delay with the project due to the TDEC extension request," Wilson said in email statement Monday afternoon.
Wilson said in the letter the final issue date should be before June 1.
" agrees to extend the date for the final issue of the construction permit for the new wastewater treatment system at the Kingsport, Tennessee Mill (Application 982937) for two weeks past the original date of May 18, 2025," he said in the letter.
Background
Also known as Project Bandit, plans for an anaerobic digester have been in the public eye for nearly 10 months. The digester is planned to help with its long-term odor mitigation efforts as requested by the surrounding Kingsport community.
The digester would convert a majority of the organics used in wastewater treatment system to biogas to fuel the mill's boilers.
A previous release from states the company obtained $60 million in tax exempt municipal bonds from the state at the end of 2024, which is planned to cover a "significant portion" of the project.
At April's Kingsport economic development meeting, Senior Director of Environment and Sustainability Brian Kozlowski shared that the company would need permits for the project not only from TDEC — but from the Tennessee Department of Transportation and CSX.
Company officials have previously stated cannot begin construction for the digester until the proper permitting is approved. 's latest estimates provided to the KEDB put the new wastewater treatment plant being completed by the first or second quarter of 2026.
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