Cleanup Plans
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This site is being addressed in four stages: initial actions and three long-term remedial phases focusing on the hot spot area, the upper and lower harbor areas, and the Buzzards Bay area.
Initial Action:
In 1982, the U.S. Coast Guard erected signs warning the public of
the presence of PCBs in the harbor. Maintenance of these signs and
erection of newer signs continues as needed. In 1985, 2,000 feet
of chain-link fence at two recreational facilities were erected
to keep people out of contaminated areas.
Hot Spot Area:
The EPA's original 1990 remedy for the hot spot area included dredging
and on-site incineration of those PCB-contaminated sediments above
4,000 ppm. Due to a vehement and congressionally-supported reversal
of local support for incineration, EPA elected to postpone the incineration
component of the hot spot remedy and explore alternative treatment
approaches. Dredging of the 14,000 cubic yards of sediment from
the 5 acre hot spot areas was accomplished from April 1994 to September
1995, with the dredged sediment temporarily stored in a lined and
covered holding pond. Seawater removed from the sediments during
dredging was treated on site. Pilot studies of solidification and
chemical destruction technologies were completed in the fall of
1996, and a feasibility study of alternative remedial approaches
was issued in December 1997. EPA issued an Amended Record of Decision
(ROD) in April 1999 which included dewatering and off-site landfilling
as the final component for the hot spot remediation. Transportation
of the hot spot sediment to an offsite TSCA permitted landfill started
in December 1999 and was completed in May 2000.
Upper and Lower New Bedford Harbor:
After an extensive process of studying New Bedford Harbor and developing
consensus for a solution to the widespread PCB problem in the Upper
and Lower Harbor areas, EPA issued a final ROD in September 1998.
The selected remedy calls for dredging and shoreline containment
of approximately 450,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment and
wetlands in four combined disposal facilities (CDFs). (See Current
Site Status for more information on the progress being made
on the harbor-wide cleanup.)
Buzzards Bay Area:
The EPA plans to initiate additional investigations of this area
of the site (south of the hurricane barrier) to determine if additional
cleanup actions are necessary.
Enforcement Highlights:
In 1982, the EPA entered into Consent Agreements with two companies
to address the PCB contamination on their properties. In 1992, the
EPA, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and five companies that
used PCBs reached settlement regarding the EPA's claims.