East Coast Tissue Manufacturer Releases Industrial Wastewater Spill

On Aug. 10, 2018, St. Croix Tissue Inc. in Baileyville, Maine, released more than a half million gal of partially treated industrial wastewater effluent from their pulp and tissue mill into the St. Croix River. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) currently is investigating the environmental impacts of the spill located on the U.S.-Canada border.

The spill occurred when a pressurized wastewater pipeline at the mill cracked, resulting in a leak. The industrial wastewater had already had some solids removed at the point of the spills, but had not undergone disinfection. Following the spill, the mill temporarily shut down but has resumed operations, according to local news source Bangor Daily News.

“Importantly, no one was hurt from this event nor did we have to lay off any of our employees,” a spokesman for the mill said.

Thus far, DEP’s investigations have not revealed any negative environmental impact on the river’s ecosystem due to the industrial wastewater spill. However, the mill has a history of similar spills in 2016, which may inform any enforcement action.