Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority reports PFAS cleanup steps, lease and revenue plans; committee to include review finding in letter

Dan Stevenson, executive director of the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority (MIRA), told the Joint Standing Committee on Housing and Economic Development on Feb. 9 that MIRA has pursued an aggressive response to a prior AFFF/PFAS release and is in a consent order with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Stevenson described efforts to remove AFFF concentrate from hangars and to recycle or transfer material where appropriate. He said MIRA negotiated a sale of some AFFF concentrate to American Airlines for $250,000 and supplied other material to military units for testing. He described the high cost of full system cleanses versus targeted remediation and said MIRA is issuing RFPs for environmental services and working with state and federal regulators on remediation strategies.

On financial and operational matters, Stevenson said MIRA is conducting due diligence on leases, revising procurement and personnel documents, and will solicit environmental and road‑condition studies (a $250,000 RFP was approved). He discussed a credit enhancement (TIF) agreement with the town of Brunswick capped at $15 million and said the authority is seeking removal of the cap to direct tax‑sheltered money to road and infrastructure work.

Stevenson also described a BRE (business retention and expansion) program to collect real‑time company data, plans to issue broad‑net RFPs to attract developers, and nontraditional revenue ideas (a 2027 music festival) to diversify income. He said some campus land is limited for housing because of land‑use restrictions on Superfund sites, and that MIRA’s vision is to transition to an airport authority over a roughly 10‑year horizon while transferring roads and utilities to the town when feasible.

Committee members asked about utilities (electric and water). Stevenson said MIRA purchases electricity wholesale and manages distribution (complexity with ISO New England) and is in preliminary conversations with CMP; he said the Brunswick Water Utility now provides some staffing help and MIRA aims to transfer water service in the next 36 months.

After the presentation, Senator Curry asked if any member opposed including MIRA in a committee letter stating it had met statutory requirements; members moved and seconded the motion and a voice straw poll recorded consensus with one abstention (Representative Amanda Calmore said she had missed part of the financial discussion and would abstain). The committee instructed staff to include the finding in the letter to the Government Oversight Committee.

Why it matters: MIRA’s remediation and redevelopment decisions shape local environmental health, infrastructure responsibilities and future economic development in Brunswick and surrounding communities. The authority’s approach to PFAS, utility transfers and lease reviews will affect both taxpayers and local service delivery.

Next steps: Committee staff will include the straw‑poll finding in the letter to the Government Oversight Committee and track MIRA’s RFPs and TIF discussions with the town of Brunswick for subsequent oversight and follow‑up.