DoomsdaysCW<p>While on the subject of <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/landfills" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>landfills</span></a> and <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/TrashFires" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>TrashFires</span></a>... </p><p>Exponential Landfill Expansion Proposal MustTake Into Account <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/EnvironmentalJustice" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>EnvironmentalJustice</span></a></p><p>Josh Woodbury July 25, 2024</p><p>"<a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/CasellaWasteSystems" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>CasellaWasteSystems</span></a> has applied for an expansion of the Juniper Ridge Landfill that could more than double its size. Under law, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection must determine whether an expansion has 'public benefit.' They also must consider Environmental Justice when looking at the industrial facility’s impact on surrounding communities, including the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PenobscotNation" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PenobscotNation</span></a>. The <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/MEDEP" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MEDEP</span></a> will make a decision by August 23rd. Public comments are currently being accepted. [I'll have to look into what the decision was]</p><p>"After a hard fought push back from area residents, including members of the Penobscot Nation, the DEP is now required to consider 'Environmental Justice' when making a determination about whether a landfill expansion meets the 'Public Benefit' criteria. The DEP will decide if the criteria is met next month. </p><p>"Juniper Ridge landfill is located in West Old Town, and is situated between <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PushawStream" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PushawStream</span></a> and <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/BirchStream" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>BirchStream</span></a> that both flow into the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PenobscotRiver" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PenobscotRiver</span></a>. The landfill’s leachate waste is trucked to the now <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/NineDragonsMill" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>NineDragonsMill</span></a> in <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/OldTownMaine" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>OldTownMaine</span></a>, where it receives treatment [sic] and is released into the Penobscot River, directly below the Penobscot Nation.</p><p>"In current solid waste law, the DEP has defined Environmental Justice as, '…the right to be protected from environmental pollution and live in and enjoy a clean and healthful <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/environment" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>environment</span></a>, regardless of ancestry, class, disability, ethnicity, income, national origin or religion. </p><p>"Environmental justice includes the equal protection and meaningful involvement of all people with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of waste management laws, regulations, and licensing decisions.</p><p>"The Penobscot Nation has experienced environmental impacts from the Juniper Ridge Landfill including odors, a toxic fire in 2023, and the discharging of minimally treated leachate, which includes <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PFAS" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PFAS</span></a>, into the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PenobscotRiver" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PenobscotRiver</span></a> sustenance fishing waters.</p><p> "Juniper Ridge Landfill still accepts out of state waste after Casella lobbied for a postponement of recently passed restrictions."</p><p><a href="https://www.sunlightmediacollective.org/exponential-landfill-expansion-proposal-musttake-into-account-environmental-justice/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">sunlightmediacollective.org/ex</span><span class="invisible">ponential-landfill-expansion-proposal-musttake-into-account-environmental-justice/</span></a></p><p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SunlightMediaCollective" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SunlightMediaCollective</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/JuniperRidgeLandfill" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>JuniperRidgeLandfill</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Casella" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Casella</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/MaineNews" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MaineNews</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Maine" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Maine</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ToxicSmoke" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ToxicSmoke</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ToxicFire" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ToxicFire</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WaterIsLife" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WaterIsLife</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WabanakiAlliance" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WabanakiAlliance</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/KathyPaul" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>KathyPaul</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/DontWasteME" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>DontWasteME</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Slingshot" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Slingshot</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ConservationLawFoundation" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ConservationLawFoundation</span></a></p>