Steam release reported at Eastman Tuesday

KINGSPORT — A steam release at Eastman Chemical Co. Tuesday raised questions for some in the Kingsport community. City of Kingsport Public Information & Communications Director Adrienne Batara said Eastman contacted the city Tuesday evening regarding the steam release and the company reported there is no risk to the general public. The city also communicated the latest update on the Kingsport Alerts Facebook page. "Representatives from Eastman contacted the City earlier this evening regarding a steam release," Batara said. "Per Eastman, there were no injuries and the noise from the steam release should begin to subside. As reported to the City from Eastman, there is no risk to the general public." Tracy Kilgore Addington, corporate communications manager for Eastman, shared similar information in an emailed statement Tuesday evening — stating no injuries were reported and the noise should calm down through the night. "There was a steam release this afternoon at the Kingsport site which could be heard outside the plant," the email from Addington states. "There are no injuries and the noise will continue to subside throughout the evening." In a follow-up email statement around 9:05 p.m. Tuesday, Addington said the steam release came from a steam line "inside plant boundaries" central to the Eastman site and "there is no danger to the community, our operating systems, or the environment." Kingsport Fire Department Public Information Officer Barry Brickey said his department responded for a mutual aid standby Tuesday but was released not long after to return to the station. This is a developing story. More information will be provided as it becomes available.