EPA to Hold Public Meeting on Modification of Remedy at New Bedford Harbor Superfund Site on October 28, 2026
BOSTON, MASS (Oct. 19, 2026) — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is hosting a virtual public meeting on October 28, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. via Microsoft Teams to present the draft eighth Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD) proposing to modify the upper and lower harbor remedy for the New Bedford Harbor Superfund Site.
Under the ESD, EPA would remove soil in areas where polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination is higher than 1 part per million. The contaminated soil would be excavated to a depth of three feet and replaced with clean soil. The plan would also include land use controls for the property. These controls would allow the City of New Bedford to pursue residential development on the site, but would require a soil management plan to make sure any PCB-contaminated soil located deeper than three feet would be handled safely, if it were to be 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," said EPA Regional Administrator Mark Sanborn. "This proposed work is an important step as we near completion of the New Bedford Harbor Superfund Site cleanup."
EPA is seeking public input on the draft ESD during the 30-day public comment period starting on October 30, 2026, and ending on November 28, 2026. Beginning on October 30, 2026, the draft ESD Administrative Record can be reviewed and comments submitted via https://www.regulations.gov (Docket ID No. EPA-R01-SFUND-2026-6304). All comments are reviewed and responded to in writing by EPA prior to selecting a final alternative for the ESD, if necessary.
Meeting materials and link to join October 28th meeting at 6:00 p.m. will be posted prior to the meeting on https://www.epa.gov/new-bedford-harbor.