EPA enforcement actions against wastewater plants in Maine
6 formal actions at 5 of 89 plants · $27,500 in penalties · 2 EPA inspections
EPA's enforcement records list 6 formal civil enforcement cases naming publicly owned wastewater treatment plants in Maine, 1 of them since fiscal year 2020. The cases involve 5 of the state's 89 plants, with $27,500 in penalties assessed. The most common ground is clean water act (2 cases). EPA has inspected 2 plants in the state, 2 inspections in total. Every plant links to its profile, and every case to its report on EPA's ECHO site.
Recent enforcement actions in Maine
| Plant | Date | Type | Law section | Outcome | Penalty | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Searsport Wastewater Treatment Facility Searsport | Apr 2025 FY2021 | Administrative order | NPDES Permit Violations | Final Order No Penalty | — | ECHO 01-2021-2005 |
EPA's description: “On December 7, 2020, EPA entered into a Clean Water Act administrative order on consent (Order) with the Town of Searsport, Maine. In September 2019, EPA denied the Town's 301(h) waiver request…” | ||||||
| Bangor Wastewater Treatment Facility Bangor | Dec 2015 FY2012 | Judicial case | NPDES Permit Violations | Final Order No Penalty | — | ECHO 01-2012-2039 |
EPA's description: “On September 30, 2012, Region 1 referred a civil enforcement action to DOJ regarding an existing consent decree with the City of Bangor, Maine. In 2010, the Region informed the City that, despite its…” | ||||||
| Kennebunkport Wastewater Treatment Facility Kennebunkport | Nov 2002 FY2002 | Administrative order | SPCC and/or Federal Response Plan Violations | Final Order With Penalty | $4,500 | ECHO 01-2002-0145 |
| Brewer Wastewater Treatment Facility Brewer | Apr 2002 FY2002 | Administrative order | SPCC and/or Federal Response Plan Violations | Final Order With Penalty | $2,000 | ECHO 01-2002-0044 |
| Calais Wastewater Treatment Facility Calais | Aug 1997 FY1997 | Administrative order | Clean Water Act | Final Order With Penalty | $1,000 | ECHO 01-1997-0116 |
| Bangor Wastewater Treatment Facility Bangor | Jun 1991 FY1987 | Judicial case | Clean Water Act | Final Order With Penalty | $20,000 | ECHO 01-1987-0012 |
Full case histories, milestones, violation types and EPA's complete case summaries for every plant are shown with a free Klarifi account. Create one
Largest penalties in Maine
| # | Plant | Date | Type | Outcome | Penalty | Compliance actions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bangor Wastewater Treatment Facility Bangor | Jun 1991 FY1987 | Judicial case | Final Order With Penalty | $20,000 | — | ECHO 01-1987-0012 |
| 2 | Kennebunkport Wastewater Treatment Facility Kennebunkport | Nov 2002 FY2002 | Administrative order | Final Order With Penalty | $4,500 | — | ECHO 01-2002-0145 |
| 3 | Brewer Wastewater Treatment Facility Brewer | Apr 2002 FY2002 | Administrative order | Final Order With Penalty | $2,000 | $2,850 | ECHO 01-2002-0044 |
| 4 | Calais Wastewater Treatment Facility Calais | Aug 1997 FY1997 | Administrative order | Final Order With Penalty | $1,000 | — | ECHO 01-1997-0116 |
Actions by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Formal actions | Penalties |
|---|---|---|
| FY2018 | 0 | — |
| FY2019 | 0 | — |
| FY2020 | 0 | — |
| FY2021 | 1 | — |
| FY2022 | 0 | — |
| FY2023 | 0 | — |
| FY2024 | 0 | — |
| FY2025 | 0 | — |
| FY2026 | 0 | — |
| FY2027 | 0 | — |
EPA fiscal years run from 1 October to 30 September. The current year is partial.
EPA enforcement in Maine: questions
How many EPA enforcement actions have been taken against wastewater plants in Maine?
EPA's enforcement records list 6 formal civil enforcement cases naming publicly owned wastewater treatment plants in Maine, 1 of them since fiscal year 2020. They involve 5 of the state's 89 plants. Informal actions such as notices of violation are not counted here.
Which Maine wastewater plant received the largest EPA penalty?
Bangor Wastewater Treatment Facility in Bangor: $20,000 assessed in fiscal year 1987 (BANGOR, CITY OF, Final Order With Penalty). Penalties are the amounts EPA records as assessed or agreed, not necessarily what was collected.
What does an EPA administrative order mean for a wastewater plant?
Most cases here are administrative orders under section 309 of the Clean Water Act: EPA finds permit violations, usually effluent limits or discharge without a permit, and orders the plant to return to compliance, often with a corrective action plan, a schedule and sometimes a penalty. Judicial cases go through the Department of Justice and typically end in a consent decree with a capital programme behind it. The latest case in Maine is from Apr 2025.
Enforcement data: EPA ICIS-FE&C civil enforcement cases and ICIS compliance inspections, via ECHO. Penalties are the amounts assessed or agreed in each case as EPA records them. Latest case status in this data: Apr 2025.
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