PENOBSCOT BAY PILOT • November 30, 2021
Exactly one year after two large bales of compact trash from Ireland spilled and dispersed into the waters of Penobscot Bay at Searsport, the Maine Board of Environmental Protection will consider a $17,800 fine be imposed on Sprague Operating Resources LLC. The Islesboro Island Trust has stated that the fine amount is inadequate, and wants the fine to be $340,000. Likewise, the Conservation Law Foundation also pressed the DEP to impose heftier fines and penalties on Sprague. DEP defended its fine, saying it: “carefully applied its penalty policy and utilized the usual tools and methods to discern the monetary penalty in a manner that is consistent with other violations.”