Tag: Juniper Ridge Landfill Expansion

RadioActive 10/13/16

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Issue: Environmental and Social Justice

Program Topic: Food Security and the Minimum Wage; Juniper Ridge Landfill Expansion

Key Discussion Points:
1) Today we speak with community and labor organizer Jack McKay about a forum on Food Security and the Minimum Wage taking place Wed. October 19th from 930-1130 at the Bangor Public Library.
2)McKay say, in the past decade, the Maine’s state food insecurity rating has risen from 33rd to 3rd, attributable to a number of administrative changes by Governor LePage restricting access to food stamps/ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. On November 8th, Mainers will vote on a referendum to increase the state minimum wage.
3) And we speak with Hillary Lister about the proposed Juniper Ridge Landfill in Old Town. On Tuesday, October 18th, Maine’s Board of Environmental Protection will conduct a public hearing on the expansion. It will take place at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. Starting at 9am applicants and intervenors will present. At 6pm the public may comment. Written comments are accepted until October 19th. There has been long opposition to the expansion of the landfill, including for it’s impact on water and the state operational policy to avoid restrictions to take out of state waste by minimal processing that re-classifies it as in state waste.

Guests:
Jack McKay, Director of Food AND Medicine, President of the Eastern Maine Labor Council
Hillary Lister, waste/landfill/incinerator activist

RadioActive 9/29/16

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Issue: Environmental and Social Justice

Program Topic: Juniper Ridge Landfill Expansion Public Forum

Key Discussion Points:
1) On Tuesday, October 18th, Maine’s Board of Environmental Protection will hold a public hearing on the renewed attempt to expand the Juniper Ridge Landfill in Old Town, which is sate owned, but run by Casella Waste Systems. Casella and the State are looking to double the size of Juniper Ridge.
2) On September 27th, opponents of the landfill expansion held an informational forum at the Old Town high school. Organizers say it is usual for applicants of major projects, such as this, would be expected to hold a public information session. As Casella and the Bureau of General Services did not, local activist held their own forum.
There has been long opposition to the expansion of the landfill, including for it’s impact on water, it’s impact on local communities, including the Penobscot Nation, and the state’s operational policy to avoid restrictions to take out of state waste by minimal processing that re-classifies it as in state waste.
3) The Board of Environmental Protection will hold it’s public hearing on Tuesday, October 18th at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. Starting at 9am applicants and intervenors will present. At 6pm the public may comment. Written comments are accepted until October 19th.

Guests:
Ed Spencer, Old Town resident and intervenor
Sarah Lakeman, Natural Resources Council of Maine
Cheryl Spencer, Old Town Resident
Paul Schroeder, Old Town resident
other participants