EPA Superfund Site

NEW BEDFORD

MA | EPA ID MAD980731335

About this site’s exposure pathways: As of December 2024, the New Bedford Superfund Site is considered "Current Human Exposure Not Under Control" because unacceptable exposure pathways exist related to consumption of locally caught Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB)-contaminated seafood. This Human Exposure Control determination is based on site-specific risk assessments that took concentration of chemicals present and the frequency/duration of exposure to these chemicals, among other things, into account. Although all sediment and shoreline remediation is now complete (see below), PCB-contamination remains in local seafood. Computer modeling estimates that it will take ten years after completion of remediation (i.e., until 2034) before PCB levels in all locally caught seafood drop to levels safe for human consumption.

EPA's full scale dredging program began in 2004 and accelerated in 2014 after a cash-out settlement with the main responsible party. Additional over $72 millions funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was provided in 2022 to fund the project to completion. All subtidal dredging and intertidal/saltmarsh remediation is now complete, and work is now focused on remaining remediation tasks at the Sawyer Street operations facility.

EPA operates an outreach campaign to dissuade the consumption of locally caught PCB-contaminated seafood. This effort includes education at public meetings as well as coordination with stakeholders and local officials. Signs are posted in multiple languages around the harbor shoreline describing the current fishing restrictions. Additionally, EPA produced and posted a video on its New Bedford Harbor project website about the hazards of consuming contaminated fish from various areas of the harbor. EPA also funds community outreach coordinators to patrol the shoreline to provide risk information to fishermen/women. EPA continues to receive reports that consumption of seafood from posted areas is ongoing among some residents.