WILTON — The owner of the former Forster Mill property did not submit an asbestos removal plan on Monday as requested by state and federal environmental agencies. 

Although they don’t have the plan, Maine Department of Environmental Protection staff spoke with Adam Mack Tuesday and were told he was meeting with contractors.

“We’ve told them they need to get us a timeline of those meetings and when they will select a contractor and deliver us a plan (for removal) no later than tomorrow (Wednesday) so we can be assured they are actively moving things forward,” Samantha DePoy-Warren, spokesman for DEP said Tuesday. “We’re doing everything we can to keep them on track.”

DEP and the Environmental Protection Agency recently met with a representative for property owner Mack. Very specific guidelines were established giving Mack, operating under the company name Wilton Recycling LLC, one last chance to start remediation before the EPA begins its own cleanup with a bill for the costs sent to the owner, she said.

A remediation plan including the name of a Maine-licensed asbestos abatement contractor to work on the site and plans to begin the first phase of asbestos removal by July 16 was expected July 9.

Demolition was halted last July after significant amounts of asbestos were found. Amounts that DEP staffers termed as “the worst asbestos site they’ve ever seen,” DePoy-Warren said.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration contacted the Maine DEP because of worker complaints. With concerns over a lack of action, DEP recently contacted EPA, she said.

DePoy-Warren estimated a six-figure cost for cleanup, a six-figure amount for OSHA penalties and a five-figure amount for DEP penalties.

After working for nearly a year with many ups and downs, DEP staff were hopeful last week when some progress was made. Prior to a July 5 deadline, first and second floor windows were covered, a debris pile and Dumpster were covered with tarps, fences were made more secure and more signs were posted.

A DEP staff member suited up and went in last Friday to make sure everything was done.

“It’s the first action that’s been taken for almost a year,” DePoy-Warren said.

A day or two late may be overlooked but “if any of these benchmarks are not met without reasonable explanation, EPA will come in and begin the cleanup,” she said. 

“Given the recent history with the site and its owner, concurrently to all this, EPA is starting their own contracting process, so they are prepared to come in immediately in that case.” 

EPA has sent Mack a property access form allowing it to enter the property and do the work if he doesn’t. Given three days to sign it, the EPA will pursue a court order if he doesn’t, she said.

The work is expected to be completed by fall.

An EPA representative wanted to say by the time snow flies but just in case it’s an early winter, he said fallish, Selectmen Chair Terry Brann said Monday. Wilton officials also attended the meeting.

Action has taken time partially due to communication and the process itself. Notices of violation then due process takes some time, DePoy-Warren said.

The ownership structure of the facility has caused delay as the company is an limited liability corporation and someone else has rights to materials from it. It has taken time to figure out who’s responsible for what, she said.

Since last fall both DEP and Wilton Town Manager Rhonda Irish have kept in touch with Mack, calling every week or two, Irish said Monday. Mack would state that he was working to find funding to complete the asbestos work.

Attempts to reach Mack and his representative were unsuccessful.

“The bottom line is that one way or another, whether it is by the responsible party stepping up to make it right or the government, … this site will be cleaned up.” DePoy-Warren said.

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