Judge blocks Juniper Ridge Landfill expansion in win for Penobscot Nation

A Maine Superior Court judge blocked the expansion of Juniper Ridge Landfill on Friday, siding with the Penobscot Nation and the Conservation Law Foundation, according to Maine Morning Star. Penobscot County Superior Court Judge Bruce Mallonee ruled the Maine Department of Environmental Protection did not conduct adequate fact-finding to determine the public benefit of expanding the landfill near Old Town and did not sufficiently consider environmental impacts on the Penobscot Nation.

“For generations, we have spoken about the many impacts our community fights against at once — on our health, our lands, and the Penobscot River,” Penobscot Nation Chief Kirk Francis said in a statement responding to the decision. The department approved the expansion license in November 2024 after determining the project would benefit the public. The ruling prevents the plan from moving forward under its current approval. Juniper Ridge is owned by the state through the Bureau of General Services and operated by NEWSME Landfill Operations, a subsidiary of Casella, and is expected to reach capacity in 2028.