Maine DEP to hold public meeting on proposed public benefit determination application

June 2, 2014

Contact: Jessamine Logan, Communications Director, jessamine.logan@maine.gov or (207) 287-5842

-The Commissioner must determine there is a substantial public benefit for a new secure landfill as part of an integrated solid waste management facility before an application for a license could be filed by the Municipal Review Committee-

OLD TOWN ?The department will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, July 2 on the application for a determination of public benefit on a new secure landfill to be located in either Argyle Township or Greenbush.

The secure disposal facility is being planned as part of an integrated solid waste management system to be implemented in 2018 by the Municipal Review Committee.

Under State statute, prior to a disposal facility submitting an application for the license needed to construct a new landfill, the Commissioner must first make a determination that the proposal provides a substantial public benefit.

The review criteria are that the proposed facility meets immediate (within the next 3 years), short term (within the next 5 years), or long term (within the next 10 years) capacity needs of the State; the proposed facility is consistent with the State?s solid waste management hierarchy; the proposed facility is not inconsistent with local, regional, or state waste collection, storage, transportation, processing, or disposal; and (only if the facility proposes to accept waste not generated in the State of Maine) that operation of the facility would be precluded or significantly impaired if the waste is not accepted.

The department will consider any public comments made at the meeting or subsequently in writing up until the Commissioner makes a determination.

At the July 2 meeting, a summary of the information concerning the proposed landfill and its public benefit will be presented and the public will have an opportunity to comment.

The public meeting will be held at the Old Town Elks Lodge, 37 Fourth Street, Old Town, Maine from 2:00 ? 5:00 pm and 6:30 ? 9:00 pm. (Please note that Googlemaps and MapQuest incorrectly list the Elks Lodge at 290 Fourth Street. It is located at 37 Fourth Street behind the Knights of Columbus building.) Please enter through the rear of the building. Both sessions are open to the public.

All documents received by the DEP related to the public benefit determination including the application and public comments are available online at http://www.maine.gov/dep/waste/mrc/index.html Interested parties may be placed on a list to receive updates related to the application and its review by contacting DEP Project Analyst Karen Knuuti at 941-4561 or karen.knuuti@maine.gov.

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