Officials say power failure behind IP mill explosion

As International Paper's Cantonment mill resumed full operations this week, the company has released more details about the Jan. 22 explosion.

Spokeswoman Janice Holmes said Tuesday that the mill experienced a power failure the day before the explosion because of an electrical fault in the power distribution system. The power failure forced the mill out of operation, which caused gas to build up in an on-site pulp digester. That is what officials believe ultimately caused the explosion.

The company's preliminary findings released March 9 show that when the digester was out of operation for an extended period of time, the gases built up and created an "explosive atmosphere."

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Costs related to the incident are now estimated to be between $80 million and $120 million, according to a press release published Monday on the company's website. The release notes the bulk of the expenses will likely be covered by insurance.

In early March, the company estimated the financial impact of the explosion would exceed $50 million.

The explosion blanketed much of the adjacent Woodbury Circle neighborhood in a sticky, black debris and forced the mill out of operation for several weeks.

During the cleanup, officials said they couldn't be certain what was released into the air immediately after the explosion. They said some of the debris was made of black liquor, a chemical used to break down wood fibers in the paper-making process.

The mill returned to partial operations about a month after the explosion, and all of the mill's employees were paid during the downtime, the company's representatives said during the cleanup.

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The cleanup crew that responded to the incident included representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida Department of Health, as well as Escambia County officials and environmental contractors employed by IP.

IP representatives have previously said they would not disclose details of any financial settlements related to the explosion.

In the days after the explosion, several hundred Cantonment residents and business owners attended community town halls and information sessions to voice concerns about health and property.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's investigation into the blast is still underway.

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