What’s happened IN other towns

West Old Town, Maine

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:39:39 -0400

Home to the massive leaking Juniper Ridge landfill formerly owned by Georgia Pacific, but now owned by the State of Maine, and profitably operated by Casella, thanks to a deal made in 2003 by Georgia Pacific, Casella, Pierce Atwood, and the Baldacci Administration. More info in article Dumping Ground at www.portlandphoenix.com/features/top/ts_multi/documents/03719391.asp .
The landfill is being filled with Construction and Demolition Debris (most likely from out-of-state), as well as Sludge and Incinerator Ash from the Georgia Pacific mill, now owned by Red Shield. Georgia Pacific was relieved of having to pay any cleanup costs, with the responsibility now moved to the People of Maine, thanks to a deal made by the Baldacci Administration in 2006. The landfill is currently permitted to use 68 acres, and Casella is seeking to add another 115 acres for use to dump its waste. People from the local Community formed a group called We the People, and have worked to stop the flow of waste into Maine and to figure out how to protect themselves from the toxic waste.

Westbrook, Maine

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:38:49 -0400

Home to South African Pulp and Paper International (SAPPI - formerly SD Warren) received approval this year from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to start burning over one million pounds a day of construction and demolition waste at its Westbrook mill. The plan to deal with the incinerator ash appears to be either that the company runs it through its water treatment plant and dumps it into the Presumpscot River, or it is sent to the West Old Town landfill, or it is used as fill under roads. Casella also is working to gain approval to build a large CDD processing facility to process incoming CDD waste from out-of-state and send it to Maine landfills and incinerators.

Washington County, Marian Township 14, Maine

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:38:00 -0400

A massive CDD landfill has been proposed to be built on Porcupine Hill, between Cathance Lake and Gardiner Lake , by Marion Transfer Station, Inc. (MST). MST has filled up its current C&D waste dump in 5 years. The dump was supposed to last for 20 years but has been filled with out-of-state (including Canadian) waste, and MST is seeking rezoning of 4,700 acres of land for the dump expansion. This land sits on a drinking water aquifer, is right next to LURC-designated "significant wetlands," adjacent to Class A Atlantic Salmon streams and other streams which empty into two large lakes whose waters empty directly into the coastal fishing waters of Washington County. MST representatives have said that they would consider selling the dump to a private company if it is approved. The Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC, the Maine State Commission with decision-making power over Unorganized Townships) voted unanimously this summer to rezone 120 acres for the landfill, even though the Washington County Commissioners came out in opposition to the plan. Clean Water Coalition, a Washington County community group, has filed an appeal challenging LURC's approval for rezoning, and if the DEP accepts an application for the dump, will call for Public Hearings.

Unity Twp, Maine

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:37:16 -0400

Home to New England Organics' "Hawk Ridge Compost Facility," the largest "biosolids composting" sludge operation in New England, importing out-of-state municipal sewage sludge and paper mill sludge to be spread on Maine land. Owned by Casella. NEO and Casella have repeatedly challenged the rights of Communities to establish local rules and ordinances determining how and if sludge and other waste is used on their land. New England Organics is listed as a current Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) Business Member on the MOFGA website at http://www.mofga.org/mofga/other/support.html

Stratton, Maine

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:36:03 -0400

Home to the Boralex-Stratton Energy incinerator that burns over half a million pounds a day of Construction & Demolition waste. Owned by Boralex. Boralex has apparently stopped CDD burning at all of its Maine incinerators in Summer 2007, after the State of Connecticut decided not to allow its Renewable Energy Credit Program to be used to fund CDD incineration.