BUCKSPORT – An impending decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency could force three area towns to make costly upgrades to their wastewater treatment plants.

The EPA has notified town officials in Bucksport, Milbridge and Winterport that the agency intends not to renew a waiver under the federal Clean Air Act that has allowed those towns to operate their treatment plants at primary levels. The decision will force the towns, working with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, to develop plans to add secondary treatment to their plants when they apply to renew their licenses.

According to Steve McLaughlin, an environmental engineer manager with DEP, the decision came after a review of the requirements of the Clean Air Act, in which EPA determined that because the plants in those towns discharge into estuaries and not ocean waters, the initial waivers should not have been allowed.

“They looked at all [waiver] communities upriver and determined that Bucksport, Winterport and Milbridge technically did not fall under the waiver requirements,” McLaughlin said.

If the EPA moves ahead with plans, it could have a significant effect on the communities, since estimates for the needed upgrades range in the millions of dollars.

“Something like this is a large blow to the town,” said Winterport Town Manager Phil Pitula, “especially if there is not a large percentage of federal funding available to help take care of the problem.”

Primary treatment involves a settling process to remove organic solids from municipal wastewater, and disinfection, when needed, before the effluent is discharged into a water body. Secondary treatment uses an additional biological or bacterial process to further remove solids from the wastewater before it is discharged.

Bucksport plans to appeal the EPA decision and, according to Town Manager Roger Raymond, already has an attorney reviewing the details. The town also will work with the Department of Environmental Protection on the requirements for renewing its license, Raymond said.

Upgrading the plant for secondary treatment would cost an estimated $4 million, he said. The town hopes to delay that process for as long as a decade or more.

“We’ve asked DEP to see if they will allow us to run the plant to its expected life span before going to secondary treatment,” Raymond said.

The plant began operation in 1988 and its life expectancy is 10 to 12 years, he said.

In response to Winterport’s request, EPA has agreed to extend the town’s response deadline to Nov. 23.

Winterport Water District Chairman Stephen Long said it appears its chances of winning an appeal are “slim,” although they have not ruled out that option.

“We felt it might be best to accept what EPA is requiring us to do and to move forward with a game plan,” Long said. “We don’t have one yet.”

The district is working with a consultant, Olver Associates, to develop that game plan and identify what issues need to be addressed.

“We’re all very concerned here,” said District Superintendent Steve Lane. “We want to make sure we’re heard and that we have enough time to comply with this and to look for funding to put it all together.”

Although they have no estimates on the cost of upgrading or building a new plant, the financial impact on the ratepayers could be significant, Long said. With about 300 users in the system, a multimillion-dollar project without federal funding could be a “heavy burden” for ratepayers, Long said.

Potential costs are also a concern for Milbridge officials, although the town is further along in the planning stages, having already planned to upgrade its aging plant, according to Town Manager Lewis Pinkham.

“Actually, we’re in a little better shape than the other towns,” Pinkham said.

The upgrade project is expected to cost about $2 million. The town already has applied for federal funding and plans to seek state funds for the project as well. If all the funding comes through, he said, work could be completed by this time next year.

If the project is not funded next year, the town hopes EPA will allow an extension until funds are available. The treatment plant serves just 76 users, who would have to foot the bill for the new construction. That would be a terrible thing for the ratepayers, he said.

“If we get all the money, we’ll be fine,” he said. “If we don’t get it, the town would be devastated.”