RUMFORD – NewPage Corp. officials said Wednesday they will again close the mill for a week to reduce 150,000 tons of paper production.

The mill will be closed from May 10 to May 18 leaving about 400 hourly employees out of work.

A similar 150,000-ton decrease was made during the first quarter of 2009, resulting in the permanent layoff of 130 hourly and salaried local mill employees.

The local mill generally ceases production during its annual maintenance week in May, but retains its employees.

That’s not the case this year because of the continued downturn in the paper market, said Tony Lyons, spokesman for the Rumford mill.

Lyons also said that about 20 of the 100 hourly employees who were permanently laid off during the first quarter are being recalled to work on the No. 9 pulp dryer.

That machine has been shut down for several months. However, Lyons said the start-up is needed to produce pulp for other mills in the NewPage family.