The ruling sends the decision back to DEP for further review. Photo: Shutterstock
January 9, 2026 (Portland, ME) – A Penobscot County Superior Court judge has rejected Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) approval of a proposed expansion of the Juniper Ridge Landfill, siding with the Penobscot Nation and Conservation Law Foundation (CLF). The ruling prevents the plan from moving forward under its current approval, which would have added space to handle the equivalent of 8.6 Empire State Buildings worth of trash to the landfill – despite its known threats to public health, Indigenous rights, and the Penobscot River.
“The Penobscot Nation brought forward facts, history, and a clear case for why this expansion should never happen,” said Alexandra St. Pierre, Vice President for Environmental Justice at CLF. “This ruling honors their leadership and affirms what we’ve long said – those closest to the harm must have power in the decisions that impact them.”
The judge found that Maine DEP failed to consider the cumulative burden on communities already overexposed to pollution and failed to properly apply environmental justice standards, sending the decision back to DEP for further review.
“For generations, we have spoken about the many impacts our community fights against at once – on our health, our lands, and the Penobscot River, the oldest citizen of our Nation,” said Kirk E. Francis, Penobscot Nation Tribal Chief. “This ruling affirms that those burdens must be taken seriously. We hope it signals a shift toward decisions that listen more closely to Indigenous voices and consider the full picture of the harm our communities face.”
The Juniper Ridge Landfill, operated by Casella Waste Systems, has long been the focus of community concerns about PFAS contamination, air pollution, and the unfair siting of waste facilities near vulnerable populations. The Penobscot Nation and CLF will continue to advocate for sustainable waste solutions that protect health, rights, and the environment.
“For years, the Penobscot Nation has warned that this landfill endangers their health, river, and sovereignty,” added St. Pierre. “This decision sends a powerful message: their lived experience matters, and environmental justice cannot be ignored.”
The decision can be read here.
Experts are available for further comment.
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