Maine Yankee, the former nuclear power plant in Wiscasset, has reached a final settlement with state agencies to compensate for groundwater contamination at the site.

The agreement calls for Maine Yankee to pay $930,000 to several projects in the region ranging from land conservation easements along the Sheepscot River to the restoration of a large area of salt marsh. It was signed early this month and announced this week by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.

Maine Yankee ceased operations over a decade ago, and the cleanup process for the site began in 2000. The settlement, two years in the making, was negotiated by several state agencies and altered after a public comment period in late 2006. Maine Yankee still owns land on Bailey Point in Wiscasset where some of the groundwater contains low levels of non-radiological contaminants. It is impracticable to cleanup the contamination, according to DEP, and restrictions are in place to prevent groundwater use and exposure to the contaminants, the DEP said.

The seven projects are:
- Sheepscot Valley Conservation Association received $170,000 to preserve 543 acres. including roughly three miles of Sheepscot River shoreline.
- State Planning Office received $100,000 to help restore the 216-acre Sherman Lake salt marsh salt marsh.
-Department of Marine Resources received $127,500 to provide more effective fish passage within the Sheepscot River watershed and $30,000 to repair a fish ladder at Cooper's Mill dam.
-Chewonki Foundation received $115,000 to buy land and expand the Back River trail system and another $115,000 for land along the Montsweag Brook.
-Department of Environmental Protection, Army Corps of Engineers and The Nature Conservancy will receive $120,500 to help create a fund and fee system for restoring and enhancing aquatic and upland habitat.

To read the DEP press release, click here.