GEORGETOWN, South Carolina — International Paper announced a plan last week to permanently close its Georgetown mill. “The mill will shut down in stages, with a full closure expected by the end of 2024,” the Oct. 31 news release said. “The Georgetown mill produces approximately 300,000 tons of fluff pulp.” The announcement did not mention IP’s Riegelwood plant, which also produces fluff pulp. It did say that the company plans to “retain 100% of the [Georgetown] mill’s fluff pulp capacity by transferring production to other mills.” …“The details of where the Georgetown Mill’s fluff pulp capacity will go is still a work in progress,” Clewis replied Friday morning. “At this stage we don’t anticipate an impact to our staffing at the Riegelwood Mill.” At Georgetown, a total of “526 hourly employees and 148 salaried employees will be impacted” by the closure, IP’s announcement said. Clewis estimated the current employee count at the Riegelwood mill at 450.