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Pownal to join North Yarmouth in legal representation for landfill remediation; town's share expected to be small
Summary
DEP notified Pownal that two wells near a closed North Yarmouth landfill are affected. The Select Board retained counsel to represent Pownal jointly with North Yarmouth and discussed a 90/10 state cost-share example that suggests only modest local costs in early stages.
The Pownal Select Board voted Oct. 14 to retain attorney Ben McCall of DrummondWoodsum to represent Pownal jointly with North Yarmouth on remediation at the North Yarmouth landfill, after the Maine Department of Environmental Protection notified contributing towns that nearby wells are affected.
Town Administrator Becky Taylor-Chase told the board she had consulted the town attorney, who advised that state law requires towns that contributed to the landfill to share remediation costs. Taylor-Chase described the representation as a joint approach so both towns can pursue aligned positions and avoid duplicative fees unless the towns’ interests diverge, in which case conflict counsel would be needed.
The town attorney provided a cost-share example to illustrate potential local exposure: if required remediation equipment costs $15,000, the state would pay 90% and the towns would share the remaining $1,500; divided between the two towns, Pownal’s illustrative share would be $750. Taylor-Chase said annual maintenance in such scenarios might be as low as $50–$100 per town but emphasized actual costs will be known only as the remediation work is scoped.
Selectperson Kate Day moved to approve joint representation and the board voted unanimously. The administrative record shows environmental counsel Joanna Tourangeau will also be involved through DrummondWoodsum.
