The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EPA has announced a major proposed update for the New Bedford Harbor Superfund Site, outlining a plan to remove contaminated soil and clear a path for potential residential development.
Proposed Cleanup and Redevelopment Plan
Under the draft eighth Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD), the agency plans to target areas in the upper and lower harbor where polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination exceeds 1 part per million.
- Excavation: Contaminated soil will be dug out to a depth of three feet.
- Replacement: The excavated areas will be filled back in with clean soil.
- Land-Use Controls: New controls will be established to allow the City of New Bedford to pursue residential development on the site. A strict soil management plan will also be put in place to ensure that any PCB-contaminated soil deeper than three feet remains safely handled if disturbed in the future.
“The City of New Bedford has been a key partner during EPA’s implementation of the Superfund remedy, allowing EPA to perform remedy support work at the City’s Sawyer Street property since the 1980s,” noted EPA Regional Administrator Mark Sanborn. “This proposed work is an important step as we near completion of the New Bedford Harbor Superfund Site cleanup.”
Public Meeting and Comment Period
The EPA is inviting community members to learn more and share their feedback:
- Virtual Public Meeting: Scheduled for Tuesday, October 28, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. via Microsoft Teams. Meeting materials and the virtual access link will be posted prior to the event on the EPA New Bedford Harbor Page.
- Public Comment Period: Running for 30 days, starting on October 30, 2026, and concluding on November 28, 2026.
- How to Comment: Beginning October 30, the draft ESD Administrative Record can be reviewed online, and formal comments can be submitted via Regulations.gov under Docket ID No. EPA-R01-SFUND-2026-6304.
All public feedback will be reviewed and addressed in writing by the EPA before a final alternative is officially selected.
