Western Maryland towns affected by paper mill closure seek state aid for water supply project

Two towns in Western Maryland are close to moving forward with a project to link their water supply systems as they continue to deal with the ramifications of a large paper mill's closure last year. Westernport, a town in Allegany County, is seeking approval from the Maryland Board of Public Works for a grant from the state Department of the Environment that will allow it to extend its waterline to Luke. When Verso Corp. closed the Luke paper mill last year, it devastated the Tri-Towns of Westernport,…