PUBLIC NOTICE Notice of Opportunity to File for Participation in Public Hearing as an Intervenor
Juniper Ridge Landfill Expansion
On December 9, 2025, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection ("Department") accepted as complete for processing an application by the State of Maine, Department of Administrative and Financial Services ("DAFS") for a Solid Waste license for the expansion of the Juniper Ridge Landfill. The application shall be referenced as #HQH-D4D1-RJBBR. The project will take place in Alton and Old Town, in Penobscot County, Maine.
On January 8, 2026, Melanie Loyzim, the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection, determined that the Department will hold a public hearing on this application as required pursuant to Public and Local Participation, 38 M.R.S. § 1310-S(2). This section states that the Department "shall hold an adjudicatory public hearing on an application for a new or expanded commercial or state-owned solid waste disposal facility that accepts special waste upon request from a resident or property owner in the municipality in which the proposed facility is located." At least one resident or property owner in the municipality in which the proposed facility is located requested that the Department hold a public hearing.
The Commissioner delegated to Ronald Mongeon, the Eastern Maine Regional Office Director for the Department, the authority to act as the Presiding Officer for purposes of carrying out the hearing. Notice of the hearing date, time and location will be published at a later date, in accordance with the requirements of the Maine Administrative Procedure Act, 5 M.R.S. §§ 9051-A to 9052 and Department rules, including Rules Governing the Conduct of Licensing Hearings, 06-096 C.M.R. ch. 3 ("Chapter 3"). At this time, any person desiring to participate as a party to the proceeding must file a written petition for leave to intervene.
As set forth in the Maine Administrative Procedure Act, 5 M.R.S. § 9054 and Chapter 3, § 11(A) of the Department's rules, the petition for leave to intervene must show that the petitioner is either an agency of federal, state, municipal or other government; or a person or member of a class which is, or may be, substantially and directly affected by the proposed project. Non-governmental petitions for leave to intervene should include:
(1) the identification of the petitioner;
(2) a description of the effect of the proposed activity on the petitioner;
(3) reasonably specific contentions regarding the subject matter of the hearing, namely the application before the Department relevant to licensing criteria of Maine's Solid Waste Rules (06-096 C.M.R. ch. 400 effective February 9, 2021, ch. 401 effective April 12, 2015, and ch. 405 effective April 12, 2015);
(4) the name of the spokesperson for the petitioner, if applicable; and
(5) a statement regarding the ability of the petitioner to participate in the proceedings to support listed contentions.
If the petitioner is a group or organization, the petition shall include a general description of the purpose and membership of the group or organization.
Persons granted intervenor status may be allowed full or limited participation in the proceeding, pursuant to the discretion of the Presiding Officer, which includes: the right to offer testimony and evidence; the right to cross-examine other parties; and the responsibility to attend pre-hearing conferences and abide by all procedural orders. Intervenors and the applicant may be required to file testimony in written form, prior to the hearing, for review by the Department and other parties in advance of the hearing. Further notice on the manner and time within which evidence may be submitted to the agency for consideration will be provided to intervenors at a later date. Oral summaries of pre-filed testimony and cross-examination will take place at the hearing.
Members of the public who wish to provide written comments to the Department about the application, or simply wish to testify at the public hearing, do not need to petition to intervene. A portion of the public hearing will be reserved for the purpose of receiving testimony from the general public. The Department will also accept written comments from the general public, until the close of the hearing record. Additional information about how to testify or provide written comments will be provided at a later date. Members of the general public who wish to receive notices related to the public hearing may ask the Department's Project Manager to be put on an "interested persons" list, without the need to intervene.
Written petitions for leave to intervene must be received by the Department on or before May 22nd, 2026 at 5:00 pm. A petition for intervenor status that is filed after this date may be granted by the Presiding Officer only if the criteria in 5 M.R.S. § 9054 and Chapter 3, § 11(A) are met, and if it is determined that good cause has been shown. If the applicant's proposal changes or if the application is supplemented with significant additional information, this may constitute good cause for a late petition for intervenor status. Petitions should be directed to:
By mail: Dominique DiSpirito, Waste Management Project Manager, Bureau of Remediation and Waste Management, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, 17 State House Station Augusta, Maine 04333-0017.
Electronically: JRLhearing.DEP@maine.gov Those submitting documents electronically must also submit an identical signed original paper document within five business days of receipt of the electronic copy.
By hand: Dominique DiSpirito, Waste Management Project Manager, Bureau of Remediation and Waste Management, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, 106 Hogan Road, 3rd Floor, Bangor, Maine 04401.
The final page of a petition for leave to intervene must be dated and signed. All petitions must be received by the Department no later than the date and time set forth above. If a petition is filed electronically with the Department by the date and time set forth above, it will be considered timely only if a signed paper version is received by the Department within five business days after the date and time set forth above.
Questions regarding petitions to intervene may be directed to Dominique DiSpirito at the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, 106 Hogan Road, Bangor, Maine 04401, Dominique.Dispirito@maine.gov or at (207) 441-0732.
The application can be viewed electronically on the Department's website at https://www.maine.gov/dep/waste/juniperridge/, and in paper copy at the City of Old Toan and Town of Alton Municipal Offices, at the Penobscot Indian Nation, and at the Department's Augusta Office file room by appointment (207-287-7843).