125th MAINE LEGISLATURE
LD 1567 LR 2164(02)
Resolve, To Authorize the State To Purchase a Landfill in the Town of East Millinocket
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "   "
Committee: Environment and Natural Resources
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
             
Fiscal Note
Potential current biennium cost increase - General Fund
Fiscal Detail and Notes
This bill as amended gives the State Planning Office (SPO) the option to acquire, own and and cause to be operated an existing licensed solid waste disposal facility in the Town of East Millinocket known as the Dolby Landfill.  If the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) were required by the SPO to operate the Dolby Landfill starting in fiscal year 2011-12 its costs could range from as low as $250,000 per fiscal year if required only to perform maintenance, inspections, water quality and leachate management to as much as $46.5 million over several fiscal years if the DEP were required to operate the landfill over the entire Valley Fill area, perform groundwater contamination remediation and ultimately close the landfill.  
If the SPO exercises the option to acquire, own and cause the Dolby Landfill to be operated it may need to expend $62,000 in fiscal year 2011-12 to conclude a landfill acquisition agreement and perform related deed and recording requirements, $16,000 per year to cover ongoing costs associated with annual landfill license and report fees starting in fiscal year 2011-12 and $100,000 per year for community benefit agreement payments to the municipalities of Millinocket and East Millinocket starting in fiscal year 2013-14.  It is important to note that if the SPO became the owner of the Dolby Landfill it would potentially bear joint liability for all of the DEP maintenance, remediation and closure costs listed above.