Eastman cited, penalized $26,800 for violation

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation fined Eastman Chemical Co. $26,800 for violating multiple permits.Violations include reporting incorrect data to TDEC, failing to provide information to TDEC, and emitting air pollutants more than is allowed through the company's permits.Violations were found in Eastman's semi-annual reports to TDEC or through TDEC inspections of Eastman facilities. The violations mostly involve activities and information from 2023 and 2024.TDEC documents note that Eastman corrected most of its violations; however, the department has not received a proposed schedule of corrective action related to a violation involving documentation of boiler tuneups as of Nov. 17, when the department issued the fine.In a statement via email, Eastman told Six Rivers Media that it is in the process of reviewing the Order and Assessment of Civil Penalty — the document that walks through the reasons for the fine — in detail."Eastman is committed to environmental stewardship, transparency, and continuous improvement in our operations," the statement said. "We will continue to work closely with regulatory authorities to ensure all requirements are met and to maintain the trust of our community and stakeholders."The Order and Assessment of Civil Penalty can be found online at TDEC's Enforcement Program dataviewer.Jorgelina Manna-Rea is an environmental reporter at Six Rivers Media through Report for America.