Allegheny Wood Products, the timber fumigation company that, amid a massive public backlash, backed out on its bid in 2023 to open a new facility in Hardy County, West Virginia, has suddenly closed. The business’ shuttering, which came to light this week, is expected to impact at least 500 jobs, though some estimates have put the number closer to 850.
The company’s website and social media pages were no longer active, and state economic officials called the decision “very sudden and unfortunate.” AWP had been in business for five decades, and while it was dealt a major blow in May 2023, it’s unclear what specifically led to the closure.
That May, Allegheny Wood Products had sought an air quality permit to build a new timber fumigation facility on agriculturally zoned land near of Baker, West Virginia. A permit was needed because the process involves the use of the highly toxic and regulated chemic methyl bromide. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, human exposure to high concentrations of methyl bromide can cause central nervous system and respiratory system failures and can harm the lungs, eyes, and skin.
Amid pushback from the local community and questions surrounding site location, land zoning, and how communication with local officials happened, the 2023 permit application was withdrawn.
“The West Virginia Department of Economic Development and Workforce West Virginia are currently assisting Allegheny Wood Products and its employees by exploring programs, support and services available from the state of West Virginia and federal programs,” a spokesman with the Department of Economic Development and West Virginia Department of Commerce told Cumberland Times-News in an email.
It’s unclear how many fumigation facilities the internationally known AWP owned or operated, though its locations included Cowen, Kingwood, Riverton, Bruceton Mills, Princeton, Petersburg, and Moorefield. The West Virginia sites largely treated lumber harvested elsewhere before being shipped to East Coast ports.
“People called me and told me that they were up there cleaning out the mill and that the bank foreclosed on them,” AWP sawmill worker Robert Williams told Eyewitness News. “Basically, we just found out we didn’t have a job anymore.”
Workers said they knew company had issues, and there were expectations for about the past four months that it was going to be sold.
Ironically, the company’s closure comes as West Virginia state lawmakers have taken steps to make the approval of new facilities like the one that AWP wanted even easier. Senate Bill 171 — which aims to prevent local land use planning and zoning authorities from regulating industrial operations that fall under the broad state definition of “agriculture” — would give even more leverage at the state level to push projects through. This bill has been approved by both the state Senate and House and its advancement seems to have better positioned AWP to renew its bid for a Hardy County location.
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice said his office is deploying a “rapid response team” to help former AWP workers manage unemployment benefits and find new jobs.
