Excavating for Buxton’s town garage is on hold, pending approval of the Department of Environmental Protection.

Jean Harmon, chairwoman of the board of selectmen, said Tuesday the site next to town hall has been cleared of trees and a well installed. “That’s as far as we can go without DEP approval,” Harmon said.

Buxton voters in a June referendum approved borrowing $1.8 million for the garage off Portland Road. The new garage would replace the outdated one on Haines Meadow Road. It will be 80 by 120 feet with five double bays, housing 10 public works department trucks.

Harmon said the town filed an application with the Department of Environmental Protection in 2006 following local planning board approval but before voters approved the money.

Harmon said the department requested the town file an updated request following the vote. “We needed to provide proof of funding,” Harmon said.

The town has received four bids to prepare the site. But selectmen had not awarded a bid early this week.

Harmon said the town awarded a bid for $1,900 to Risbara Brothers of Scarborough to clear trees and a $9,100 bid to High Pine Well Drilling Company of Buxton for the well.

She said site work would include stump removal, installing storm drains, site leveling and an entrance drive. Harmon is hoping the site work could begin this fall. “It’s frustrating waiting for this,” she said.