Apr 25, 2012. /Lesprom Network/. Clearwater Paper Corporation reported net earnings of $3.7 million for the 1Q 2012, compared to net earnings of $5.6 million for the 1Q 2011. Excluding $6.7 million in discrete tax items mostly associated with converting gallons from the Cellulosic Biofuel Producer Credits to Alternative Fuel Mixture Tax Credits, 1Q 2012 net earnings were $10.4 million. Excluding a net tax charge of $1.9 million related to a number of discrete tax items, 1Q 2011 net earnings were $7.5 million, as the company said in a press release received by Lesprom Network. 1Q 2012 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, was $45.2 million, compared to $41.7 million in the 1Q 2011. EBITDA in the 1Q 2012 included $1.1 million of operating income from the company’s Shelby, North Carolina facility and an estimated $5.3 million in net cost savings from synergies associated with the acquisition of Cellu Tissue Holdings, Inc. 1Q 2012 EBITDA was also impacted by $15.5 million of scheduled major maintenance costs, compared to $11.4 million in the 1Q 2011. “We are pleased to report excellent 1Q results, driven by a resurgence in our Consumer Products segment operating income margin to 9.5%,” said Gordon Jones, Chairman and CEO. “We remain excited about expanding our tissue business via our new TAD paper machine and additional converting lines in Shelby, and expect our new paper machine to be completed on budget and on time, with the paper machine start-up in the 4Q 2012.” Net sales in the Pulp and Paperboard segment of $180 million for the 1Q 2012 were down 8.4% compared to 1Q 2011 net sales of $196.6 million. The decrease in net sales was due to the sale of the company’s sawmill in November 2011. Clearwater Paper manufactures quality consumer tissue, away-from-home tissue, parent roll tissue, machine glazed tissue, bleached paperboard and pulp at 15 manufacturing locations in the U.S. and Canada.