Juniper Ridge Landfill

More than 50 people rallied on the banks of the Penobscot River in Old Town on Sunday to oppose the expansion of nearby Juniper Ridge landfill.

Under a proposal before lawmakers, the state would need legislative approval to renew the contract to operate the Juniper Ridge Landfill in Old Town.

In October the state concluded that the expansion was in the public's interest and set several conditions that Casella Waste Management must meet to move forward with the project.

Casella Waste Management, the operator of the state-owned Juniper Ridge Landfill in Old Town, has been cleared to apply for a license to expand.

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection has issued a draft decision approving the expansion's public benefit determination, despite opposition from the Penobscot Nation, area residents and environmental groups.

The proposed extension for the operator of the Juniper Ridge Landfill in Old town came under fire from area residents at a Thursday evening hearing.

Environmental activists have criticized Casella Waste Systems' management of the site and how it handles toxic sludge in recent years. Its proposed expansion and acceptance of out-of-state trash has also faced criticism from locals who worry about the landfill's environmental impact on their area.

The Old Town Fire Department says a neighbor reported the blaze around 8 pm and that crews were there for four-and-a-half hours.

State environmental officials say they support a two-year suspension of new restrictions on out-of-state waste.

State environmental officials plan to update lawmakers on Wednesday about what some view as a developing crisis over the disposal of sludge.