State approves demolition of Bucksport paper mill

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection has granted a demolition permit to the Canadian firm that purchased the shuttered Bucksport paper mill from Verso Paper Corp. in January.

The Ellsworth American reported that the Sept. 2 permit puts AIM Development LLC a step closer to demolishing the mill at an estimated cost of $4.45 million. A subsidiary of the Montreal-based metal recycling firm American Iron and Metal, AIM Development almost must get the town’s approval before demolition can proceed.

Bucksport’s town council is scheduled to consider the company’s demolition request at a meeting this Thursday.

Jeffrey McGlin, vice president at AIM Development and manager for its Bucksport project, told the weekly newspaper that the planned demolition will require as many as 35 employees and take a year to complete. Redevelopment of the site could take another three to five years, he said.

Earlier this summer, McGlin said the company is considering building a dock on the eastern end of the site to take advantage of deep-water and freight rail capabilities there — adding that the company plans to ship scrap metal from the site rather than creating a scrap yard there.

Verso Paper closed the $60 million sale of its shuttered Bucksport mill to AIM Development in late January, roughly a month after shutting down the plant and laying off more than 500 employees.

Former Verso mill in Bucksport to be demolished next week