BANGOR DAILY NEWS • May 15, 2025
A company that owned a Masardis sawmill until January could pay $240,000 in fines for violating state environmental regulations, including improper handling of wastewater. Daaquam Lumber, owned by Groupe Lebel and Bois Daaquam of Riviere-du-Loup, Quebec, allegedly discharged pollutants into local waters and failed to collect samples to monitor wastewater, among other violations, according to the DEP. Under a consent agreement, Daaquam will pay a $99,000 civil penalty and contribute $141,000 to enhance fish habitat in a nearby waterway. Commonly known by the name of its longtime former owners, J. Paul Levesque and Sons, the sawmill operation has a history of Canadian owners since its founder died in 2013. Maibec, also of Quebec, bought it in 2015. Daaquam acquired it from Maibec in 2018 and owned it for about seven years. Irving Forest Products acquired it on Jan. 5.