Environmental and Economic Report: The Impending Closure of Chillicothe’s Pixelle Mill and its Impact on Sustainable Development Goals

The planned closure of the Pixelle paper mill in Chillicothe, Ohio, presents a multifaceted crisis, challenging the region’s progress toward several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The shutdown not only signifies a substantial economic disruption (SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth) but also threatens to unleash a long-contained environmental hazard, directly impacting community health and water safety (SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being; SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation).

Background: A Legacy of Industrial Contamination

The Unintended Containment System

For decades, the Pixelle paper mill’s operations have served an inadvertent but critical environmental function. By drawing approximately one billion gallons of water annually for its industrial processes, the plant’s wells created a hydraulic barrier that contained an underground plume of toxic chemicals. This use of industrial infrastructure (SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) effectively prevented the contaminants from migrating and polluting surrounding land and water resources.

Nature of the Toxic Plume

The contamination is a legacy issue originating from a former WearEver aluminum cookware facility. The underground soil and groundwater are contaminated with carcinogenic chemicals, with recent Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports indicating alarming levels:

• Trichloroethylene (TCE): Levels measured at 15 times the maximum contaminant level.
• Vinyl Chloride: Levels measured at 100 times the maximum contaminant level.

This historical failure in SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production has created a long-term threat to public health and the environment.

Analysis of Impacts on Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 3 (Good Health) & SDG 6 (Clean Water): An Acute Risk

The cessation of the mill’s water extraction activities is considered a “worst-case scenario” by the Ohio EPA. The primary risks associated with the potential migration of the plume include:

1. Groundwater Contamination: The plume could spread, impacting previously uncontaminated groundwater sources. While the city’s primary drinking water is reportedly safe, private wells could be at risk.
2. Soil Contamination: There is concern that chemicals could rise through the soil, potentially contaminating residential land and gardens, posing a direct health risk.
3. Surface Water Pollution: The nearby Scioto River is at risk of contamination, which would have severe consequences for aquatic ecosystems, aligning with concerns under SDG 15: Life on Land.

SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities) & SDG 8 (Economic Growth): A Dual Threat to Community Resilience

The situation in Chillicothe exemplifies a critical challenge to SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. The community faces the simultaneous loss of a major employer and the emergence of a significant environmental hazard. This dual crisis undermines the economic stability and environmental safety required for a resilient and sustainable community.

Institutional Response and Mitigation Strategy (SDG 16 & SDG 17)

Regulatory Oversight and Corporate Accountability

The response highlights the importance of SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, with the Ohio EPA taking the lead in managing the situation. The agency is enforcing corporate accountability by requiring Howmet Aerospace, the successor to WearEver, to address the contamination. This collaboration between government and the private sector is a core tenet of SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

Required Actions and Monitoring

The Ohio EPA has mandated a series of actions to mitigate the risks:

• Howmet Aerospace must evaluate all human health and environmental risks associated with the mill’s closure.
• The company is required to install additional groundwater monitoring wells to track any movement of the plume.
• A revised remedial plan must be submitted to ensure the continued protection of the community and environment.

Experts note that complete cleanup is a monumental task, potentially taking over 100 years. Therefore, the immediate strategy focuses on containment and intensive monitoring, a common approach for such legacy sites across the nation.

Conclusion and Outlook

The impending closure of the Pixelle mill is a stark reminder of how modern economic shifts can uncover and exacerbate historical environmental failures. While officials have reassured the public that there is no immediate threat and that the situation is being managed, the long-term health of the community and its environment depends on robust monitoring, corporate responsibility, and effective institutional oversight. This case underscores the interconnectedness of the Sustainable Development Goals, demonstrating that achieving economic prosperity (SDG 8) and building sustainable communities (SDG 11) is impossible without addressing the legacies of past pollution and ensuring the fundamental rights to good health (SDG 3) and clean water (SDG 6).

SDGs Addressed in the Article

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • The article directly addresses health risks associated with a “toxic plume of cancer-causing chemicals,” specifically trichloroethylene (TCE) and vinyl chloride. The potential for these chemicals to contaminate soil and water poses a direct threat to human health, as highlighted by the mayor’s concern about them creeping “up out of the soil into their backyard vegetable garden.”

2. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • The central issue is the contamination of “soil and groundwater” by a toxic plume. The article details how the Pixelle paper mill’s water usage helped contain this plume, preventing it from contaminating “groundwater and the Scioto River.” The closure of the mill threatens the stability of this containment, directly impacting local water resources.

3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • The article’s premise is the closure of the Pixelle paper mill, a major local employer. The title itself questions how the “closure [would] impact the local economy.” The loss of the mill represents a significant blow to local employment and economic stability.

4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • The issue is a localized environmental hazard within the city of Chillicothe. The article discusses the management of this legacy industrial waste, the risk to residents, the potential impact on the city’s wastewater treatment plant, and the role of municipal and state authorities (Chillicothe Mayor, Ohio EPA) in managing the situation to ensure the safety and sustainability of the community.

5. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • The contamination affects terrestrial ecosystems, specifically “soil and groundwater.” The article mentions the potential for the plume to migrate and contaminate “farmland,” which directly relates to the health and productivity of land resources. The slow, natural breakdown of the chemicals by “biological microorganisms” also points to the impact on subterranean ecosystems.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.
     • This target is relevant because the entire article focuses on the threat posed by “cancer-causing chemicals” (TCE and vinyl chloride) that have created a “toxic underground plume of soil and groundwater,” representing a clear case of soil and water contamination.

2. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials.
     • The article discusses a historical chemical spill that has led to a plume with “extremely high levels of trichloroethylene, and vinyl chloride.” The efforts to contain this plume and the ongoing monitoring are directly aimed at minimizing the release of these hazardous chemicals into the wider groundwater system and the Scioto River.
   • Target 6.6: By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including… rivers, aquifers and lakes.
     • The containment efforts described in the article, first by the mill and now by the Ohio EPA and Howmet, are actions to protect the local aquifer and the nearby Scioto River from the toxic plume.

3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men…
     • The closure of the Pixelle paper mill, a major industrial plant, directly threatens local employment. The mention that the owner is searching for “new buyers” and that “multiple offers for purchase were submitted” reflects efforts to restore the economic activity and jobs associated with the plant.

4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
     • The toxic plume is a legacy waste management issue from a former manufacturer. The article details the ongoing efforts by the Ohio EPA and the city to monitor and manage this environmental hazard to protect the residents of Chillicothe.

5. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by drought, flooding and disasters, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.
     • The article describes land and soil contaminated by hazardous chemicals. The monitoring, containment, and long-term remediation efforts (“it would take over 100 years to completely clean it up”) are actions aimed at managing and eventually restoring this degraded land.

Implied or Mentioned Indicators

1. Levels of Chemical Contaminants

   • The article provides specific measurements of pollution, stating that “TCE levels at 15 times the ‘maximum contaminant level’ for TCE and 100 times for the max for vinyl chloride.” These measurements are direct indicators for tracking progress on reducing water and soil contamination (Targets 3.9, 6.3).

2. Groundwater Monitoring and Remediation Plans

   • The Ohio EPA’s request for Howmet to “install additional groundwater monitoring wells” and develop a “revised remedial approach” serves as an indicator of actions taken to manage and mitigate environmental risks (Targets 6.6, 11.6, 15.3). The continuous monitoring itself is a key indicator of the management process.

3. Containment of the Contaminated Plume

   • The article explains that the mill’s water usage “prevented the toxic plume from migrating.” Whether the plume remains contained or begins to spread after the mill’s wells shut down is a critical indicator of environmental protection and the health of water-related ecosystems (Targets 6.6, 15.3).

4. Status of Mill Operation and Employment

   • The closure of the mill is a negative indicator for local employment. Conversely, the report that there are “potential buyers” and “multiple offers for purchase” is a positive indicator of efforts to restore jobs and economic activity in Chillicothe (Target 8.5).

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: wyso.org