CONCORD, Mass. – The state of Maine, Bureau of General Services is seeking a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District to work in waters of the U.S. in conjunction with expanding the Juniper Ridge Landfill in Old Town, Maine.
The proposed work involves the expansion of the Juniper Ridge Landfill, located off of 2828 Bennoch Road in Old Town. Over the next 10-12 years, the state of Maine proposes to fill up to 2.04 acres of freshwater wetland, clear 0.10 acre of freshwater wetlands and impact 6 vernal pools in conjunction with the expansion of the existing landfill facility. The expansion would consist of approximately 54 acres of additional landfill footprint, 20 acres of infrastructure (roads, sedimentation ponds, scales, administrative building, etc.), and a relocated perimeter fence and electrical line.
An analysis of need was done by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection as part of a Public Benefit Determination for the project. As part of that analysis, MEDEP determined that the Expansion’s 9.35 million cubic yards are needed to ensure the long term waste disposal needs of the state. The state has evaluated options to avoid wetland impacts, including off-site options and several alternate on-site development options for the expansion and determined that the proposed footprint design is the least environmentally damaging practicable alternative to provide the state-approved capacity and avoid and minimize impacts to on-site wetlands and other protected natural resources to the maximum extent practicable.
To compensate for the project’s unavoidable impacts to wetlands and vernal pools, the applicant proposes to preserve an onsite 266 acres parcel. The site includes approximately 57 acres of freshwater wetlands, 209 acres of adjacent upland, and 25 documented vernal pools.
The application for the federal permit was filed with the Corps of Engineers in compliance with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, which regulates the discharge or fill of material in U.S. waters, including wetlands. The public notice can be viewed at www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/PublicNotices.aspx.
Public comments referencing this permit request by the state of Maine, Bureau of General Services (File # NAE-1991-1909-M1) should be forwarded no later than Sept. 29, 2016 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Maine Project Office (ATTN: Shawn Mahaney), 675 Western Ave., #3, Manchester, Maine 04351. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Shawn Mahaney at 207-623-8367 or 978-318-8492 or by email to shawn.b.mahaney@usace.army.mil.