Penobscot Nation Chief Raises Concerns as Maine DEP Restarts Juniper Ridge Landfill Expansion

The proposed 61-acre expansion would extend the landfill's life by 11 years, but tribal leaders say the environmental impacts are being discounted.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 10:49pm

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The Maine Department of Environmental Protection has restarted the processing of Casella Waste Systems' application to expand the Juniper Ridge Landfill in Old Town, Maine. Both the Penobscot Nation and environmental leaders have expressed concerns about the potential impacts of the expansion, which they say the DEP is not fully considering.

Why it matters

The Penobscot Nation has long been concerned about the environmental impacts of the numerous landfills located within their watershed, including five within five miles of their reservation. They believe the DEP is not adequately weighing the tribe's interests and the broader impacts on the Penobscot River and surrounding communities.

The details

The proposed 61-acre expansion of the Juniper Ridge Landfill would extend its operational life by about 11 years, according to DEP paperwork. The DEP has issued a revised public benefit determination allowing the expansion, after a judge rejected the agency's initial filing and ordered it to reconsider the project's environmental impacts. Chief Kirk Francis of the Penobscot Nation says the tribe remains concerned about the expansion's effects, including on PFAS levels in fish, a significant food source for tribal members.

  • The Maine DEP issued a revised public benefit determination last week allowing for the expansion of Juniper Ridge Landfill in Old Town.
  • A judge previously rejected the DEP's initial filing and ordered the agency to reconsider the project's environmental impacts.

The players

Penobscot Nation

The federally recognized Native American tribe whose ancestral lands and waters include the Penobscot River watershed, where the Juniper Ridge Landfill is located.

Kirk Francis

The chief of the Penobscot Nation, who has raised concerns about the potential impacts of the Juniper Ridge Landfill expansion on the tribe and surrounding communities.

Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)

The state agency that is processing the application for the Juniper Ridge Landfill expansion and has issued a revised public benefit determination allowing the project to move forward.

Casella Waste Systems

The company that owns the Juniper Ridge Landfill and has applied for the 61-acre expansion.

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What they’re saying

“I know it's a complicated subject, but the tribe remains concerned. We'll continue to stay engaged and try to figure out what our next steps are.”

— Kirk Francis, Chief, Penobscot Nation

“The tribe needs to be fully considered when we have 93 landfills in our watershed and five within five miles of our reservation. This is a significant issue for us here in terms of all the work that's been done, not just by us, but our neighbors in Maine.”

— Kirk Francis, Chief, Penobscot Nation

“We all agree that waste disposal is necessary and part of our society. But there's only so much stress you can put on one place and on the environment.”

— Kirk Francis, Chief, Penobscot Nation

What’s next

The court is now considering the Maine DEP's revised decision as part of the ongoing appeal process. The department will also host a public hearing on the Juniper Ridge Landfill expansion at a later date.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between the Penobscot Nation, environmental advocates, and state regulators over the expansion of waste management facilities within the tribe's ancestral lands and watershed. The Penobscot Nation is seeking to have its concerns and the broader environmental impacts more fully considered in the decision-making process.