Waste agency’s siting director quits

AUGUSTA — The official who has directed Maine’s controversial two-year search for special waste dump sites is quitting, but his boss says it will not delay the state’s effort to locate two suitable locations.

Kenneth C. Young Jr. resigned Tuesday, effective Aug. 2, as siting director for the Maine Waste Management Agency, according to the agency’s executive director, Sherry Huber.

John James, an agency staff member, will be named acting director until a permanent successor can be found.

Young, who is leaving state service to become director of state and federal relations for the Maine Municipal Association, said his departure should not be viewed as any reflection on the siting process.

But officials in some of the communities selected as potential dump sites weren’t so sure.

Arundel Town Manager Chuck Whiting said Young’s resignation signals the need for a re-evaluation of the siting process.

“The Legislature should step back a little bit and see if this is really how they want to be doing this,” Whiting said. “They ought to seriously look at the process.”

Biddeford Mayor Bonita Belanger said Young’s departure will create more problems for municipalities.

“I’m wondering who’s going to be next and what can I expect from them,” she said.

The search for a southern Maine storage site for incinerator ash, sludge and other special wastes has been narrowed down to three large tracts in Kittery, Buxton and along the Arundel-Biddeford line.

Five sites picked as finalists for a similar dump in eastern and central Maine are located in Alton, Benton, Ellsworth, Howland and near the Hermon-Hampden line.

Huber said Young’s departure will not delay the state’s intent to hold hearings in the designated towns this fall and make its final selections by next March.

“As acting director, Mr. James will continue to keep the special waste siting project on track and on timetable,” Huber said.