Wilton, Maine – Wilton Recycling has been ordered to pay a penalty of $7500 for its role in a hazard involving asbestos at a former mill site, the DEP (Department of Environmental Protection), says. Adam Mack, the owner of the company, said the Depot Street site’s active demolition could start any time, whether he is imprisoned for unconnected charges or not. Mack is 38 years old. Mack is an earlier Republican state Rep for Standish. He admitted guilty in United States District Court at Portland in last October to mishandling federal money. Yet he hasn’t been sentenced. However, he could receive up to 5 years in federal prison for that crime. “The other case is ongoing still. I am not sure whether I am available to coordinate directly or not. But I do have other people who are responsible and will go ahead with the project,” said Mack. In Wilton, Mack’s long enforcement process is ending with a consent agreement entered by him with the DEP. “This case’s conclusion is a win-win, which proves that the enforcement process of the DEP works,” said department spokeswoman MS. Samantha Depoy-Warren, after declaring the agreement 2 days ago. “The responsible entity was held answerable in a rigid but reasonable way. More significantly, the ultimate asbestos removal from the site now permits for the renovation of this particular community cornerstone,” she said. The mill’s demolition was stopped in 2011 July, when workers shifted federal government officials to hazardous working atmospheres resulted by inappropriate removal of asbestos-containing insulation from pipes. As per the consent agreement, nobody inspected the site to know if asbestos is present there prior to the demolition, which is a clear violation of DEP rules. While removing the pending mess, an expert in asbestos removal said it was the worst asbestos-containing site he has ever seen in the state of Maine in for past three decades. The asbestos material was cleaned up safely in last September, after a year of negotiating talks between the DEP and Mack. According to Depoy-Warren, this resolution is definitely an accomplishment for the DEP, the cleanup contractor, the Wilton town and also to Mack, as he stepped up for making the site safe, which is a constructive action that is reflected in the minimized monetary fines. According to Mack, the initial part of the structure will be demolished this winter and the main part will be torn down in the spring.
