Smith quoted in BDN story on Penobscot River remediation project in Orrington
According to a Bangor Daily News article, a federal judge is expected to decide next year on how to proceed with a court-ordered cleanup of mercury dumped in the Penobscot River for decades by the former HoltraChem chemical plant in Orrington. However the method of mercury removal is still being considered. According to Sean Smith, UMaine assistant professor in the School of Earth and Climate Sciences, digging up pollution and keeping it contained presents a challenge. Dredging the material could create a plume of contaminants that will flow with the current and while constructing a barrier around the affected area may be possible, keeping it stable as the river’s current and tide fluctuate would be difficult. No matter the solution “you’re dealing with a big problem and you want to make sure you don’t create other problems along the way,” said Smith., digging up pollution and keeping it contained presents a challenge. Dredging the material could create a plume of contaminants that will flow with the current and while constructing a barrier around the affected area may be possible, keeping it stable as the river’s current and tide fluctuate would be difficult. No matter the solution “you’re dealing with a big problem and you want to make sure you don’t create other problems along the way,” said Smith.