Dorna Davis is one of 300 people who live within a mile of Leeds Metal, an old scrap metal recycling operation. From 1969 to 1984 it shredded metal from cars, and since then the metals have been contaminating the ground. Some of those chemicals have made it into nearby wells.
Water contamination is one reason this site is now on the Environmental Protection Agency's national priority list. Clean-up won’t come cheap or easy. First, they're going to build a fence around the property to keep people away. David Wright with the State Department of Environmental Protection says just to clean up the remaining scraps would cost $10 million. That doesn't include cleaning up the lead, gasoline, and other chemicals that speeded into the soil and ground water.
The EPA will spend the winter tracking down the businesses that used to operate on this property to see if they can be held financially responsible for cleanup.
Related Stories
- More Local News
- National News
- International News
- Maine highway study law repeal voted
- LePage to veto Maine hospital repayment bill
- Somerset County sues state Corrections Board
- LePage vetoes Maine college tobacco ban
- Maine businesses to receive environmental awards
- House approves Maine hospital debt repayment
- Maine gov. signs suicide prevention education bill
- House to debate Maine hospital debt repayment
- Northern Maine paper mill to get new owner
- NH's Shea-Porter introduces pipeline amendment
Pump Patrol Gas Card Giveaway
Enter for a chance to win a $100 Irving Oil Gift card!
No Text Zone
Help make our roads safe and you could win prizes!
WGME Top Stories
Business News
Asia stocks rise as Fed official backs easy policy
BANGKOK (AP) -- Asian stock markets were mostly higher today after investor confidence was boosted by a Federal Reserve official's comments that the U.S. central bank should stick with its super-easy monetary policy.
Consumer Info
BC-US--Dow Record-Three Personal Stories, 1st Ld-Writethru,1173
Dow Record: Three tales of ups, downs and changes
AP Photo FX102, FX103
Eds: With BC-US--Dow Record. Adds photos.
By SCOTT MAYEROWITZ
AP Business Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- When the Dow first crossed 14,000, investors were overjoyed. ...
Entertainment News
"DANCING WITH THE STARS" - KELLIE PICKLER WINS
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Kellie Pickler didn't win on "American Idol."
Get This
DOG BEACH WEAR
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- From bikinis to Hawaiian shirts -- it's time to gear up for the beach.
Science/Tech News
IN THE NEWS: TEENS MOVING TO TWITTER TO DODGE PARENTS, OTHER BORES
WASHINGTON (AP) -- If you're one of those parents who are on Facebook in part to keep an eye on what your kids are up to -- here's a news flash: your kids are on to you and have moved to Twitter.

