https:​//mainecampus.com/2023/09/old-town-mill-receives-state-penalty-for-environmental-damages/

Old Town Mill receives state penalty for environmental damages

OLD TOWN, Maine – The ND Paper mill, located along the Penobscot River in Old Town, was recently fined a sum of $101,400. It was put in place by the Department of Environmental Protection for a 2020 chemical spill which resulted in vast environmental damages. According to a report made by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the spill that took place in September and October of 2020, and was found to consist of roughly 30,720 gallons of a sodium hydroxide mix, was ejected through a drain in the facility. It flowed down the riverbank into the Penobscot River. This was found to result in heightened pH levels in the river, leading to the discovery of several dead fish.

Upon further investigation by the DEP, the spill was found to have taken place due to a faulty floor drain system, which went undetected by the facility. This system has, however, been repaired in recent years with much difficulty.

As for the long-term results of the spill in the Penobscot River, the damages are expected to have an impact on the affected segment of the river due to the high levels of pH contaminating the groundwater, according to the DEP.

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