• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Hampden Council OKs Review of Waste Disposal Ordinance

Posted on: Tuesday, 20 December 2005, 12:00 CST

By Jackie Farwell, Bangor Daily News, Maine, Bangor Daily News, Maine

Dec. 20--HAMPDEN -- The town ordinance governing waste disposal will be reviewed and possibly modified after a unanimous vote Monday by the Town Council.

Councilor Matthew Arnett proposed the motion, saying many residents have approached him with concerns about an odor coming from Pine Tree Landfill.

"It seems to them the problem has grown over the years," Arnett said.

The town ordinance states that waste disposal facilities must control nuisance odors, but doesn't clearly state how or under what circumstances, he said.

"What constitutes an acceptable level of nuisance odor?" Arnett said.

The discussion led to an explanation by Town Manager Susan Lessard about the state's standard governing nuisance odors. The Department of Environmental Protection will take enforcement action only after odors reach a level of three or higher on an eight-point scale, she explained.

The scale is based on butanol, a type of alcohol, mixed with water in various concentrations. Trained "sniffers," like Lessard, who have taken a training course in the science, smell the mixtures to approximate an odor's intensity level.

A level three odor that is sustained over time is strong enough to cause a physical reaction, such as nausea, Lessard said. It's that intensity level, not the type of smell, that the DEP evaluates in determining whether enforcement is necessary, she said.

In other words, just because the smell is offensive doesn't mean it warrants a citation from the DEP, Lessard said.

Councilors agreed to send the ordinance to the charter and ordinance committee for review and recommendation of any needed changes.

Also on Monday, councilors:

. Approved a $49,200 bond for paving gravel roads.

. Approved a victualer's license for Edward's Family Shop 'n Save, formerly Graves Supermarket, on Western Avenue.

. Congratulated one another, town staff and volunteers for their year of accomplishments on behalf of the town.

-----

Copyright (c) 2005, Bangor Daily News, Maine

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.

LSE:SBRY,

Source: Bangor Daily News (Bangor, Maine)

More News in this Category