Maine Revised Statutes Title 38. Waters and Navigation § 1319-S. Hazardous waste facility closure

1. Closure plan. Closure of any new or existing waste facility for hazardous waste and, if required, post-closure care, must be in accordance with a closure plan and, if required, a post-closure plan, approved by the board. An applicant for a license for a waste facility for hazardous waste shall submit a closure plan and, if required, post-closure plan, for approval with any application for a license. For a facility that is licensed at the time of closure under an interim license, the licensee shall submit a closure plan and, if required, post-closure plan, for approval at least 180 days before the date on which the licensee begins closure. The closure plan and, if required, post-closure plan must include measures, such as leachate control, site stabilization and monitoring, to evaluate and maintain the integrity of the facility site in order to prevent harm to the public health, safety and welfare and to the environment.

2. Closure notice. Upon approval of a closure plan for a facility for hazardous waste, the commissioner shall file notice with the register of deeds for the county in which the facility is located. This notice must contain the name and address of the current owner of the property, its location, the nature of hazardous wastes handled and the methods of treatment, storage and disposal used at the facility.

3. Restrictions. The board may require the present or subsequent owner of the land used for a facility for hazardous waste to execute and record a written instrument which imposes a restrictive covenant on the present and future uses of all or part of the land. The covenant shall be recorded in the registry of deeds of the county in which the facility is located. The instrument shall be executed by the owners of the property and the commissioner. It may only be required when the board determines that it is necessary to protect the public health and safety. A covenant executed under this section shall run with the land.

4. Petition for removal of restrictions. The owner of the property restricted by covenant under subsection 3 may petition the board to modify or remove these deed restrictions. This petition shall detail the restrictions to which the petitioner objects, the basis of the objections, the nature of the relief requested and the nature of any new or additional evidence to be offered. Upon a showing that the restrictions are not necessary to protect public health and safety, the board may remove all or part of the restrictions.

5. Post-closure orders. Without restricting or limiting any other remedy, the department may issue a post-closure order and enforce its terms when the facility owner or operator has failed to submit a complete application for a post-closure license under section 1319-R, subsection 6, in a timely manner.