By Bonnie Washuk,Staff Writer

LEWISTON – The Harvard Law grad nominated to head Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection says he’ll clean the Androscoggin River faster than his predecessor.

David Littell also vowed to set a new course for the DEP, which has suffered from credibility problems for how the department worked with paper companies crafting Androscoggin River pollution regulations.

Littell, nominated by Gov. John Baldacci to replace former Commissioner Dawn Gallagher, faces a confirmation hearing in the Legislature on Tuesday.

If confirmed, he said he’ll push to meet federal Clean Water Act standards for the Androscoggin sooner than the 10 years Gallagher had promised.

But Littell’s first priority will be to restore the department’s credibility. He’ll do that by doing his job “and doing it right, and expecting the same of staff,” he said.

When things aren’t going right, word gets out, he said. His philosophy is to be straight with everyone, even when it’s painful. That, he said, is how trust is built.

In late November, Baldacci gave Littell the task of reopening a pollution permit just given to International Paper, a dramatic move considering it took years for the department to issue that permit. How much pollution a permit allows has a direct impact on when the river will be clean enough to meet federal standards.

IP’s permit was reopened because data indicated the permit was too lenient in how much phosphorus the mill could discharge. Phosphorus degrades water quality and contributes to algae blooms.

DEP also is taking another look at the overall permit. In question is whether the mill’s limits for certain organic pollutants should be lowered.

Cleaning the river

Lewiston legislators have unsuccessfully pushed for DEP to bring the Androscoggin River into the Class C compliance within five years. DEP now has a timeline of 10 years. Littell said he plans to shorten that with the new permit.

He would not give a date, but said he hopes that in a few years the Androscoggin will be a river “where fish can live in and grow to a healthy level, that residents all along can swim in.”

One big fear among many is the loss of paper mill jobs. IP has said meeting the Clean Water Act in five years would mean investing more than it can afford and a loss of good-paying jobs.

Environmentalists have countered that IP wants a license with a “big ceiling” to make the mill, which is for sale, more attractive to a buyer. A big ceiling means plenty of license room to increase pollution.

Littell did not know whether the new permit would mean IP would have to invest more money to reduce pollutants.

“We have two capable engineers, both experienced with the pulp and paper industry,” he said. “Those are the questions I’m posing to them.”

He cautioned that it could take two to six months for the new permit to be issued. Nine staffers are reviewing it. Whatever it looks like, Littell insisted it would be “the right decision, one based on science, engineering and water-quality data. We’re going to take our time to do it right.”

IP spokesman Bill Cohen questioned whether DEP has the authority to reopen the permit. IP wrote to Maine’s Board of Environmental Protection suggesting that DEP cannot reopen the permit unless the board approves that action.

Littell disagreed. “The department has the authority to do this,” he said.

While doing its job,the department must be aware of the impact on people and companies, Littell said. But the mission is to protect the environment and public health.

“We have to pursue our primary job,” he said.

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