Grimmel receives conditional approval for yard in Maine

Grimmel Industries, Topsham, Maine, has received a conditional permit by the Searsport (Maine) Planning Board to operate a scrap metal yard at the Mack Point industrial zone in Searsport, Maine.

During the board meeting, held Feb. 9, the board unanimously approved the permit. The board did, however, stipulate a number of conditions that would need to be addressed over time.

While the company has received approval from Searsport and can begin the prep work at the site, Grimmel still needs to receive approval from Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection before the company can begin using the site for transloading scrap metal.

According to local press reports, Grimmel will lease a 2.25 acre concrete pad from Sprague Energy. Per its arrangement, the company will be responsible for ensuring the scrap metal yard operates in an environmentally safe manner. Also in the meeting board members called on the company to conduct a magnetic sweep of the area after loading vessels to ensure that scrap metal does not fall into the nearby water.