Poland Spring cancels deadline for proposed plan in Fryeburg
POLAND – Poland Spring Water has postponed any decision with the town of Fryeburg on locating its new bottling plant there until 2005.
The bottled water giant had been discussing building a new bottling facility in the town for several months. It had set a March 31 deadline for a decision, but backed off from that date to allow more time to answer questions and collect additional data.
“This allows both sides to come to a thoughtful and reasoned decision,” said Jane Lazgin, spokeswoman for the company.
The company has been searching for a site for a third bottling plant to meet increasing demand for its bottled water. There are bottling facilities at Poland and Hollis.
A new bottling plant is “minimally a $100 million investment,” said Lazgin and represents 200-250 jobs. The company has been looking at other sites in Franklin, Oxford and Somerset counties, but was furthest along in discussions with Fryeburg. Lazgin declined to name the other sites.
“I think it’s a little disappointing,” said June Irvine, town administrator in Fryeburg. “I’m hoping everybody can work things out and Poland Spring can come to Fryeburg.”
A public hearing was held Jan. 28 on Poland Spring’s plan. Irvine said the overriding concern from townspeople seemed to be the sustainability of the aquifer that would feed the plant. Poland Spring currently draws water from Fryeburg’s Evergreen Spring. Some local residents formed the Fryeburg Aquifer Resource Committee to monitor the process and gather facts.
The company has been collecting data on the aquifer and performing monitoring tests and will continue to do so, said Lazgin, which it will share with the resource committee.
“We respect the town’s commitment to that aquifer,” said Lazgin. “We’ve had a good response from the town and it’s been very receptive. We have good lines of communication.”
She said the existing plants, plus the water that is transported to them from several new springs, will suffice to meet the anticipated demand for Poland Spring water for the next few years. A decision on a new plant is expected sometime in 2005.
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