MIAMISBURG, Ohio, — Verso Corp. announced Tuesday it will permanently close its paper mill in Luke, Maryland.

Approximately 675 employees will be impacted. Verso has six remaining manufacturing facilities, including its pulp and paper mill in Quinnesec.

The closure, which is expected to be complete by June 30, will reduce Verso’s coated freesheet production capacity by approximately 450,000 tons, reducing total annual paper production capacity to approximately 2.7 million tons.

“It is unfortunate that we had to make the decision to close the Luke mill, but the continuing decline in demand for the grades of paper manufactured there left us no choice but to close this facility that has struggled with profitability for a number of years,” said Verso Interim Chief Executive Officer Leslie T. Lederer.

Most of the Luke mill’s paper grades are already qualified to be produced on other Verso paper machines, according to Verso President of Graphic and Specialty Papers Michael A. Weinhold.

Besides Quinnesec, Verso mills are in Escanaba; Stevens Point and Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.; Duluth, Minn.; and Jay, Maine.

The Luke mill was founded in 1888 and eventually became known as Westvaco Corp. before a series of corporate sales and mergers left it in the hands of Verso in 2015.

“The decision to close this mill that has been in operation for more than 130 years was an extremely difficult one, and is in no way a reflection on the dedicated men and women who work there,” Lederer said. “We know that this will be an extraordinarily emotional and challenging time for our Luke Mill team, and Verso is committed to treating them with fairness, respect and dignity during this difficult time.”