Penobscot Bay Blog: LD 1639

On October 3, 2022 the Maine Legislature's Environment & Natural Resources Committee (ENR) questioned and got updates by Maine DEP chief of Waste Management Suzanne Miller, NRCM's Sarah Nichols, Resource Lewiston's Greg Leahy, and Burnstein Shur atty James Codys (audio mp3) regarding implementation of LD 1639 An Act To Protect the Health and Welfare of Maine Communities and Reduce Harmful Solid Waste The bill was approved by Governor Mills and is now Public Law 1639 .

AUDIO of the October 3, 2022 briefing .

Introduction 1. Committee members and staff 2min21sec

Introduction 2. Committee cochair Ralph Tucker's plan for this as a briefing, not a public hearing 4min23sec.

GOVT

DEP Susanne Miller, chief, Bureau of Remediation & Waste Mgmt 29min30sec

INDUSTRY

James Cody, Bernstein Shur & Greg Leahy, Resources Lewiston. 6min17sec

Cody & Leahy QA1 25min

Cody & Leahy QA2 13min12sec

CONSERVATION

Sarah Nichols NRCM present and QA_43min

Backstory Maine's publicly owned Juniper Ridge Landfill was acquired by the state as a public resource for the exclusive deposition of Maine-generated waste. But a loophole was sneaked onto the enabling bill that allowed out of state waste to continue to be dumped on JRL, provided it has been minimally "processed" by a Maine recycling facility. The new public law corrects this.

May 18, 2021 Audio of testimony on LD 1639 An Act to protect Health and Welfare of Maine Communities and Reduce Harmful Solid Waste : Intro by Senator Anne Carney ,NFNA by DEP's Paul Clark & Bill Supporters Link to written testimony **** Bill Opponents 41min (scroll down below supporters for individual LD 1639 opponents audio links)