New Bedford Harbor Superfund Site Community Update on Site Activities — June 2018
EPA Public Meeting • Thursday, June 21st • 6 p.m.
Fairhaven Town Hall • 40 Center Street • Fairhaven, MA
*Agenda will be sent out in advance of the meeting
Lower Harbor CAD Cell Disposal
Dredging of PCB contaminated sediments below low tide elevations (subtidal) are now substantially complete south of Coggeshall Street. PCB levels measured in the remediated areas after the dredging was complete averaged about 10 ppm, well below required levels. Dredging followed by CAD Cell disposal continues just north of the Coggeshall Street Bridge through mid-June.
Shoreline Cleanups
Marsh Island Update; North Street Salt Marsh and “Between the Bridges” (Fairhaven)
Some replanting of vegetation and other maintenance activities of areas addressed by EPA in 2017 at Marsh Island will continue in 2018.
The next shoreline cleanup is underway at the saltmarsh at the end of North Street in Fairhaven. Approximately 2000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment has been excavated from this area, to be followed by topsoil placement and replanting and restoration of the saltmarsh. Following the North Street saltmarsh cleanup, remediation of the shoreline area between the Coggeshall Street and Route 195 bridges in Fairhaven will commence this summer/fall.
Upper Harbor Wetlands Update (Acushnet)
Brush clearing and access road construction in the shoreline area furthest north in the upper harbor in Acushnet near the former Ball Plant One is scheduled for this summer. Excavation of PCB-contaminated soil/sediment in this area’s intertidal zone is scheduled to then begin in fall 2018, followed by clean topsoil placement and replanting of the saltmarsh.
Interim Sediment Cap Near the Aerovox Site
Approximately 3 acres of highly contaminated shoreline and river sediment will be placed under an “Interim Cap” this Spring near the former Aerovox Mill Site so that dredging of the adjacent river sediments can proceed in sequence with EPA’s cleanup.
Dredging and Disposal of Highly Contaminated Sedimen from the Upper Harbor
Dredging of the Cable Crossing area in the Upper Harbor began in October 2017, and is now substantially complete. PCB sediment levels in this area have dropped dramatically. Once dredging is fully complete in the Cable Crossing, the cleanup will proceed in a northerly direction towards the Wood Street Bridge
For more information, contact EPA community involvement coordinator Kelsey Dumville at 617-918-1003 (dumville.kelsey@epa.gov)
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