Virginia Town Grapples with Pollution from Smurfit Westrock Paper Mill, Officials Face Scrutiny
Residents of Covington, Virginia, a small Allegheny Highlands city, are experiencing significant environmental and health issues attributed to the Smurfit Westrock paper mill. Amanda Dean, a resident living two miles from the mill, reports a pervasive foul odor, likened to 'dirty diapers,' that can be detected over ten miles away in Clifton Forge. Her car is frequently covered in ash, and she has developed asthma requiring multiple hospitalizations since moving to Covington, with doctors suggesting proximity to the mill as a major factor. The Environmental Integrity Project, a national watchdog group, identified the Smurfit Westrock mill as one of the country's worst polluters in 2023. According to Tom Pelton, a spokesman for the group, the mill emitted over 2,000 tons of nitrogen oxide, more than 200,000 metric tons of methane, and approximately 170,000 pounds of hydrochloric acid in 2023 alone. Despite these findings and resident complaints, local officials are reportedly dismissing concerns. 
