Chemical safety board skewers Maine paper mill over gas spill that led to deaths

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 14, 2026

Federal investigators on Tuesday detailed a series of safety failures that led to the preventable deaths of two young workers at a Maine paper mill in January. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board’s update reveals Woodland Pulp lacked basic alarms, tracking systems and ventilation to protect employees from a predictable toxic gas release. The findings highlight safety gaps in a facility that remains a vital economic engine for Washington County. “Although our investigation is still ongoing, it already is clear that this terrible tragedy should never have happened,” said Steve Owens, chairman of the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, in the Tuesday update.