Republic Paperboard LLC is planning a $15 million upgrade to its Lawton plant to boost wastewater purification and address the plant’s contributions to occasional odors in west Lawton, city officials said in a news release.
Republic has also agreed to pay the city $100,000 for reimbursement of administrative fees and other costs incurred by the city, according to the news release.
Republic’s mill upgrade project was designed in collaboration with and approved by the city’s wastewater division. The project began in early 2022 and is estimated to take an additional 24-36 months to complete.
Meanwhile, Republic will continue working with the city to evaluate and implement equipment and process improvements at the mill.
“This mill upgrade project is part of Republic Paperboard’s ongoing and historical commitment to achieving the highest standards in our industry,” Sverre Gunnarschja, vice president of operations at Republic, said in the news release. “Republic’s goal is to ensure that our facility operates in harmony with the Lawton community, and this project will advance that goal. We are grateful for the city of Lawton’s expertise and close collaboration with Republic Paperboard as we implement these improvements that will lead to an even more positive and sustainable future.”
Residents on the west side of Lawton may still smell an odor occasionally as construction continues.
The city of Lawton and Republic have met to discuss interim measures and solutions to mitigate the smell, according to the news release. These measures include additional air monitoring, chemical treatment with automation, inline water quality analyzers and additional dissolved oxygen during and after treatment.
“We ask citizens to have as much patience as possible during the construction phase and understand that Republic is committed to upgrading their facility,” said David Hastings, the city’s wastewater plant superintendent. “The city of Lawton will continue working with Republic to ensure long-term compliance and accountability.”