FRENCHVILLE — Longer hours of incineration at hotter temperatures are among demands of federal authorities in a signed agreement that allows the continued use of the solid waste incinerator at Frenchville until mid-1992, when an alternative solid waste disposal method will be put in service.

The move demanded that the Northern Aroostook Regional Incinerator Facility at Frenchville increase its staff because of longer hours. The 1 1/2 more positions needed to staff the facility, said Norman Cyr, won’t increase operating expenditures much because the added personnel is decreasing the need for overtime by those already on the job.

The consent agreement between NARIF, the federal Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Justice has been signed by NARIF and is under consideration by the EPA and the courts. The EPA had filed suit in federal court to stop the use of the incinerator at Frenchville.

The groups have agreed that NARIF would pay a $125,000 fine for allegedly operating illegally for nearly eight years, that an alternative method of disposal would be found, and that the incinerator at Frenchville would be allowed to operate until June 30, 1992, to allow the new system to be placed on-line.

Longer operating hours started April 1, said Cyr at a NARIF meeting April 4. He said they had had to increase burning temperatures with the use of fans and redesign of a crossover duct.

Cyr said the facility had been burning 10 to 12 hours a day. One problem with the longer hours, he said, is to keep it below 16 hours and below 40 tons a day.

The eight-hour cooling-down period, he said, is needed because workers may need to get into the burning chamber in the morning for repairs. He said eight hours was needed to cool the chamber so workers could work inside.

Arthur Faucher, chairman of the group and town manager at Madawaska, said the application for the Lundell Waste Recovery system and its parallel structures had been forwarded to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection with the appropriate fees of $3,075.

The applications were in Augusta on March 29.

In other business, NARIF will look for more information on a proposal by a Canadian, Jacques Thibeault, who wants to purchase tires and white goods from the Frenchville facility. Thibeault hopes to shred the tires and to recycle the rubber.

Directors agreed to pursue a proposal to use Presque Isle’s landfill for residue from the proposed Lundell Waste Processing system. They will file an intent with the Presque Isle City Council and look to discussions between the two parties.

Faucher said that legislation to allow the use of Lundell system developed pellets as a heat source is going through the process at Augusta. He said legislators were looking to an early vote on the legislative document. It has an emergency preamble and would go into affect after passage and signature by Gob. John R. McKernan.

Directors also took care of housekeeping duties, including the approval of front-end loader repairs. They also agreed to seek bids for engineering work on a new building, discussed carpeting, approved a proposal to attend two solid waste disposal conferences at Augusta and Springfield, Mass., and agreed to look into negotiating for land next to the present incinerator site.

Faucher reported that NARIF attorney Samuel Lanham of Bangor petitioned the federal court for a stay of proceedings in the case against NARIF by the EPA.