The Sider London plastic spill at Mack Point in December- Sprague takes the fall in consent agreement.

PLASTIC SPILL ALERT

Check out  below the just released proposed consent agreement and supporting documents responding to the  December 2, 2020 spill of bales of (plastic) solid recovered fuel  by  Sprague personnel operating the crane on the M/V Sider London. Then let DEP know what you think 

Maine DEP has announced  a 30 day public comment period beginning Friday, September 17, 2021. Details below the links. 

Note: Sprague has signed this agreement.  But the agency says it will only either accept it or require changes , AFTER they consider the public's information.

Administrative Consent Agreement 9/14/21  (revised /proposed)

Dry Cargo Risk Assessment  (F-19)

Reportable Quantity Thresholds  (2.1.2.0)

Cargo Operations for Dry Bulk, Breakbulk and Project Cargo   (TOM 3.02)

Dry Cargo  Pollution Prevention and Response  (TOM 3.06)

WHAT'S NEXT?  DEP's Water Quality enforcement Chief Pamela Parker explains: (separated into  sections for ease of reading)

"Once the public comment period has ended, the Department will respond to all relevant comments and include those responses in the information provided to the Board of Environmental Protection (BEP) 2 weeks prior to the meeting where this action will be heard. 

"The BEP meeting provides another opportunity for public comment. 

"After deliberation the Board will vote to approve the agreement or direct staff to amend the document and renegotiate with Sprague. 

"You will note that this agreement does not require further remediation of the spilled plastic, after much deliberation, the Department concluded that additional cleanup actions would do more harm than good.  

"You will also note that Sprague did not propose a supplemental environmental project, this is always an option for the violator but Sprague chose not to pursue that option as it may have significantly delayed settling this matter. 

 

"If you have comments,  please do not hesitate to send them to me."

Pamela Parker

Water Enforcement and Boat Pumpout Program

Division of Water Quality Management

Maine Department of Environmental Protection

Pamela.d.parker@maine.gov

(cell) 207-485-3038