Superfund Sites in Reuse in Massachusetts
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31 Water Street
The half-acre 31 Water Street site is located next to the Back and Powwow rivers in Amesbury, Massachusetts. Several industrial operations in the Lower Millyard contaminated site soils and surrounding surface waters. The city of Amesbury discovered the contamination during initial revitalization efforts for the historic Amesbury Wharf building area, where the site is located. EPA’s Superfund removal program committed $1.2 million to remove contaminated soil from the site and stabilize the riverbanks. EPA dug up 1,400 tons of contaminated soil and disposed of it off site. EPA also stabilized the riverbanks with 400 feet of sheet pile wall. EPA completed cleanup actions in July 2015. The site, part of the community’s Lower Millyard Project, is now home to Heritage Park. Funding from the commonwealth of Massachusetts and EPA’s Superfund removal program facilitated the site’s cleanup and redevelopment. The park provides residents and visitors with a recreation resource next to the Powwow River. A bandstand and river walk will soon be added to the park. The Amesbury Riverwalk, a 1.3-mile walking and biking trail, runs next to the site. At a ceremony marking the completion of the Lower Millyard Project, Amesbury’s mayor issued a proclamation thanking EPA for its assistance.
Last updated August 2021
As of October 2022, EPA did not have economic data related to on-site businesses, or economic data were not applicable due to site use. For additional information click here.
For more information:
Atlas Tack Corp.
The Atlas Tack Corporation Superfund site is located in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. It covers about 48 acres and includes upland areas, wetlands and saltwater marsh. From 1901 to 1985, the Atlas Tack facility made a variety of metal products, including tacks and steel nails, on site. Operations released waste containing acids, metals, and solvents into drains and an unlined lagoon near a marsh area. Waste disposal practices resulted in contamination of soil, surface water, sediment and groundwater.
In 1990, EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL). Cleanup activities included demolition of most remaining site structures, removal of contaminated soil, groundwater monitoring and site restoration. EPA completed these activities in 2007; monitoring began in 2008. Restored wetlands and the saltwater marsh now provide habitat for plants, fish and wildlife. Birders frequent the site for bird-watching activities. These citizen scientists have recorded several species on site, including the Pie-billed Grebe, the American Bittern and the Least Bittern, which are endangered in the commonwealth of Massachusetts. Potential future development at the site could include commercial and industrial reuse of upland areas.
Last updated August 2021
As of October 2022, EPA did not have economic data related to on-site businesses, or economic data were not applicable due to site use. For additional information click here.
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Blackburn & Union Privileges
The Blackburn & Union Privileges Superfund site is located in Walpole, Massachusetts. Industrial and commercial processes on the site using chromium, arsenic, and mercury date back to the 1600s. Between 1891 and 1915, the site was used for manufacture of tires, rubber goods and insulating materials. The crushing of raw asbestos in the manufacture of brake and clutch linings occurred at the site between 1915 and 1937. Various cotton and fabric production processes were conducted at the site from 1937 until 1985, when the facility was abandoned. Industrial operations contaminated soil, sediment and groundwater.
EPA placed the site on the NPL in 1994. In 1999, EPA entered into a settlement with parties to perform the remedial investigation and feasibility study. In 2000, EPA awarded the town of Walpole a Superfund Redevelopment Program (SRP) pilot grant to develop reuse plans for the property. EPA approved the site’s cleanup plan in 2008. The cleanup plan divided the site into four management units requiring excavation and dredging with off-site disposal of contaminated soil and sediment, extraction and treatment of contaminated groundwater, and institutional controls and long-term monitoring. In 2010, EPA entered into a settlement with the parties to design and perform the site’s cleanup. Cleanup construction began in 2015. The town took over site parcels for unpaid taxes and developed a new police station and senior center. In May 2018, town officials, police and community members gathered to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open a new police station. In December 2018, another ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the completion of a new senior center – the Walpole Co-operative Bank South Street Center. The site also includes continued residential use and a community Rail Trail for recreation.
Last updated August 2021
As of October 2022, EPA had data on 2 on-site businesses. These businesses employed 41 people. For additional information click here.
For more information:
- Blackburn & Union Privileges Superfund Site - Before and After
- Reuse and the Benefit to Community: A Beneficial Effects Economic Case Study for the Blackburn & Union Privileges Superfund Site (PDF)
- Superfund Site Profile Page
- Video: EPA Superfund Redevelopment 20th Anniversary
Cannon Engineering Corp. (CEC)
The 7-acre Cannon Engineering Corporation (CEC) Superfund site is located in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Beginning in the 1970s, CEC transported, stored and burned hazardous wastes at the site. Mishandling of the waste and reporting violations led to the facility closing in 1980. In 1982, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) removed contaminated sludge and drums from the site.
EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. Cleanup included installation of fencing, soil treatment of lesser-contaminated soils, excavation and of-site disposal of highly contaminated soils, groundwater monitoring, decontamination and removal of contaminated buildings and structures, restoration of wetlands, and institutional controls. The Responsible Parties completed the cleanup in 2013. In the mid-1990s, Osterman Propane Distribution (Osterman) relocated to the former CEC facility and is currently operating at the site. In 1998, Omnipoint Communications Enterprises began leasing the property and built a cellular communication tower. In 2013, EPA, with concurrence from MassDEP, took the site off the NPL. EPA continues to monitor the site, conducting a review of the cleanup actions every five years to make sure the remedy remains protective of human health and the environment.
Last updated August 2021
As of October 2022, EPA had data on one on-site business. This business employed 9 people and generated an estimated $62,704,000 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
Charles-George Reclamation Trust Landfill
The 70-acre Charles George Reclamation Trust Landfill Superfund site is located in Tyngsborough, Massachusetts. Initially a small municipal dump, the landfill expanded to accept household and industrial wastes, chemicals containing volatile organic compounds and metal sludge. The commonwealth ordered the landfill closed in 1983. Site operations contaminated groundwater.
EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. Cleanup activities included providing a permanent water supply to residents affected by contaminated groundwater, capping the landfill, and collecting contaminated liquid draining from the landfill (leachate), groundwater and landfill gas. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection operates the landfill gas collection/destruction system and the groundwater/leachate collection system and maintains the cap. EPA’s Superfund Redevelopment Program and Region 1 conducted an assessment in 2010 to evaluate opportunities for using Superfund sites in Massachusetts for solar energy. In 2016, Citizens Energy Corporation completed construction of a 3.56-megawatt solar photovoltaic facility on the landfill.
Last updated August 2021
As of October 2022, EPA had data on one on-site business. EPA did not have further economic details related to this business. For additional information click here.
For more information:
- Site Redevelopment Profile: Charles George Landfill Superfund Site (PDF)
- Superfund Site Profile Page
Flynntan
The Flynntan Tannery site is located in Salem, Massachusetts. A leather tannery operated on site. EPA worked to clean up the site after the tannery’s closure. A real estate developer bought the site property and has begun redeveloping it with housing units and commercial space.
Last updated August 2021
As of October 2022, EPA did not have economic data related to on-site businesses, or economic data were not applicable due to site use. For additional information click here.
For more information:
Fort Devens
The 9,000-acre Fort Devens Superfund site, once a military base with extensive contamination, is now part of a large-scale redevelopment effort in central Massachusetts. Soil and groundwater contamination resulted from military activities at the site that started in 1917. In 1989, EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL). Of the 324 sites initially identified by the U.S. Army, 54 required further investigation. Most of these areas require no further action or have cleanup plans in place. Some cleanup activities and investigations are ongoing.
In 1994, the towns of Ayer, Harvard, Lancaster and Shirley, together with redevelopment authority MassDevelopment, developed the “Devens Reuse Plan”. The Plan devoted more than a third of Devens’ land area to open spaces and recreational areas. MassDevelopment has brought warehouses and distribution centers, manufacturing and industrial space, and research and development facilities to the site. Several federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the U.S. Department of Defense, have put almost 600 acres of the site back into beneficial use. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service used another 836 acres of the site to expand the Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge. The site also includes a Native American cultural center and residential properties, as well as the Shirley Meadows affordable apartments for seniors with supportive service for aging, which opened in 2020. While cleanup and investigations are ongoing, the successful partnership between EPA, the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Army, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and MassDevelopment has contributed to increased employment opportunities as well as increased revenue for the local community.
Last updated August 2021
As of December 2021, EPA had data on 143 on-site businesses. These businesses employed 4,556 people and generated an estimated $1,782,683,866 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
For more information:
- Redevelopment and the Benefit to Community: Fort Devens Superfund Site (PDF)
- Superfund Site Profile Page
Fort Devens - Sudbury Training Annex
The 2,750-acre Fort Devens Sudbury Training Annex Superfund site is a former U.S. Army military installation. The site covers about four square miles and includes portions of the towns of Maynard, Stow, Hudson and Sudbury, Massachusetts. Established in 1942, the installation served as an ammunition depot, ordnance test station, troop training and research area, and laboratory disposal area. EPA identified contamination from use of pesticides and other chemicals on parts of the site.
EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1990. The U.S. Army worked with EPA to remove contaminated soil, cover an on-site landfill with a cap, remove underground storage tanks, and monitor groundwater. EPA removed the site from the NPL in 2001; in 2017, Army began investigating a preliminary assessment for PFAS. Follow-up PFAS investigations are planned to occur in late 2021. Several entities own parts of the site.
In 2000, the U.S. Army transferred 2,230 acres of the site to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It established the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge on the land. In 2005, the Service finished walking trails in the refuge. In 2008, it finished restoring Russell Bridge. In 2010, a visitor center and other park amenities opened at the refuge. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service used green building techniques for the visitor center, which includes a geothermal heating system and solar panels. The refuge provides recreation opportunities, including hiking, canoeing, guided tours of the military bunkers on site, hunting and fishing.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s plans for the refuge include educational demonstration areas, restoration of on-site bunkers, an urban education area and a rail-to-trail project for the abandoned railroad on the south side of the refuge. The refuge receives about 75,000 visitors annually. In 2002, the U.S. Army transferred four acres to the U.S. Air Force. It uses the area for operation of a radar and weather station. In 2003, the U.S. Army transferred about 72 acres of the site to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It uses the land for its operations and training missions and has cleared 6 acres for use as a temporary antenna field.
Last updated August 2021
As of December 2021, EPA did not have economic data related to on-site businesses, or economic data were not applicable due to site use. For additional information click here.
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GE - Housatonic River
The GE-Pittsfield/Housatonic River site includes a 254-acre former manufacturing facility, filled river oxbows, neighboring commercial properties, the Allendale School, Silver Lake, the Housatonic River, floodplains and other areas. The site contains contamination released from the General Electric Company (GE) facility in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. A revised cleanup decision in the form of a Revised Corrective Action Permit for portions of the Housatonic River was issued in December 2020. This permit is currently being appealed to EPA’s Environmental Appeals Board. A Consent Decree entered in federal court in 2000 outlined the cleanup of all other areas of the site. All 20 cleanup actions outside the river are now complete. Cleanup of 2 miles of the Housatonic River is also already complete.
As part of ongoing cleanup activities, the community prioritized the reuse of the former GE facility, located in the heart of downtown Pittsfield. Funded by a Superfund Redevelopment pilot grant from EPA, the Pittsfield Economic Development Authority (PEDA) developed a reuse plan. The plan outlined opportunities for sports fields and an office park. In 2004, GE built a 3-acre recreational facility on site for the community. The facility includes a baseball diamond, soccer field, jogging track, equipment storage, fencing and lighting. Between 2005 and 2012, PEDA received ownership of 50 acres at the site for the development of the William Stanley Business Park. The facility provides commercial and industrial space for area businesses. The park’s first tenant, a financial services company, built a 170,000-square-foot building that opened in 2012. Western Massachusetts Electric Company installed an 8-acre solar power facility in 2010, using 2 acres of the site and 6 acres of an adjacent property, which generates 1.8 megawatts of electricity. In 2014, PEDA received a $9 million state grant to design and build the Berkshire Innovation Center (BIC). The BIC facility opened for business in February 2020. The facility supports shared research, early-stage production and commercialization, and workforce training for life science companies and related businesses. Two large employers continue to operate on the GE-owned portion of the 254-acre facility. Continued uses on the non-GE owned portion of the site (excluding the Rest of River) include an elementary school, about 86 residential properties, about 35 commercial properties and a city park.
Last updated August 2021
As of October 2022, EPA had data on 39 on-site businesses. These businesses employed 2,248 people and generated an estimated $732,369,892 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
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Groveland Wells
The 850-acre Groveland Wells Superfund site is located off of Washington Street in Groveland, Essex County, Massachusetts. The former Valley Manufacturing Products Company produced metal and plastic parts on site until 2001. The site's responsible party (PRs) released cutting oils and chlorinated hazardous solvents at the site. Additional waste leaked from underground storage tanks and disposal systems that were located at the facility. Site releases contaminated the town of Groveland’s public water supply.
EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1982. In late 1987 and early 1988, the PRPs installed and used soil vapor extraction (SVE) to remove contaminants from site soils. The PRPs also installed a small groundwater treatment system in 1988. However, these systems were ineffective. EPA then designed and installed a large groundwater treatment system in 2000. In 2006, EPA removed abandoned underground storage tanks, a former disposal system and contaminated soils from the site. In addition, from 2009 to 2011, EPA designed, installed and operated an electrical resistive heating treatment system to replace the SVE system. All of these treatment activities were effective and concluded in 2014.
The Groveland Department of Public Works continues to operate a portion of the site. EPA’s Superfund Redevelopment Program and Region 1 conducted an assessment in 2010 to evaluate opportunities for using Superfund sites in Massachusetts for solar energy. In 2012, a 3.6-megawatt solar array was installed on another area of the site. It provides power for more than 500 homes. The site remains in continued residential, recreational, commercial, municipal and industrial use. Mill Pond and portions of Johnson Creek are also located on site. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection is decommissioning the large groundwater treatment facility on site. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston owns the property and plans to use the decommissioned treatment facility building. EPA continues to monitor conditions, conducting a review of the cleanup actions every five years to make sure the remedy remains protective of human health and the environment.
Last updated August 2021
As of October 2022, EPA did not have economic data related to on-site businesses, or economic data were not applicable due to site use. For additional information click here.
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Hanscom Field/Hanscom Air Force Base
The 1,120-acre Hanscom Field/Hanscom Air Force Base (AFB) Superfund site is located in an industrial area of eastern Massachusetts. The site is in the towns of Bedford, Concord, Lexington and Lincoln. In 1942, the commonwealth of Massachusetts leased the Bedford airport to the War Department for use by the Army Air Forces. In February 1943, the airport was renamed Laurence G. Hanscom Field. Military flight operations at the site ended in 1973. In August 1974, the U.S. Air Force terminated its lease of the airfield portion of Hanscom Field, which reverted to state control, but retained the right to use the field. Military use of the site resulted in contamination of groundwater and subsurface soil with chlorinated solvents, jet fuel and other petroleum compounds. Site investigations identified 22 possible sources, including former fire training, disposal, underground storage tank and other spill sites.
Under state oversight before the site’s National Priorities List (NPL) listing in 1994, the potentially responsible party completed interim remedial actions, including excavation of contaminated soil and underground storage tanks, and installation of a groundwater extraction and treatment system. EPA’s cleanup plan, as documented in a 2007 Record of Decision, includes continued operation of the groundwater treatment system, land use controls, and monitoring of groundwater and surface water. Some site investigations are ongoing. Today, the Massachusetts Port Authority operates L.G. Hanscom Field as a civilian airport. Hanscom AFB, an active U.S. Air Force installation, operates nearby.
Last updated August 2021
As of December 2021, EPA had data on one on-site business. EPA did not have further economic details related to this business. For additional information click here.
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Hatheway & Patterson
The 38-acre Hatheway & Patterson Superfund site is located in Mansfield and Foxborough, Massachusetts. Approximately 36 acres of the Site are located in the Town of Mansfield and the remaining 1.77 acres are located in the Town of Foxborough. The Site is bisected by the Rumford River, which runs north to south, and by a railroad right-of-way, which runs east to west. The site includes the area where the Hatheway and Patterson Company operated a wood-preserving facility from 1953 to 1993. Releases of chemicals used during these operations resulted in soil and groundwater contamination. It also resulted in contamination of sediment and surface water in the Rumford River’s fisheries and surrounding wetlands.
EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) in 2002. Cleanup included removal of contaminated soil, capping of a 2-acre area, institutional controls, and long-term monitoring of groundwater, surface water, fish tissue and sediment. EPA completed the cleanup in 2011. Institutional controls in the form of Notice of Activity and Uses Limitations (NAULs) were recorded with the Registry of Deeds to prevent uncontrolled access to the remaining contamination. In 2018, the Site was deleted from the NPL because EPA determined that the all-response actions for the Site were complete and that all cleanup goals had been achieved.
Today, a 119-space commuter parking lot is located on part of the site. It serves the nearby Mansfield commuter rail station. The town of Mansfield also uses part of the site for emergency vehicle storage and uses a remaining building for office space. The Mansfield portion of the site along County Street in not currently in use.
Last updated August 2021
As of October 2022, EPA did not have economic data related to on-site businesses, or economic data were not applicable due to site use. For additional information click here.
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Industri-Plex
The Industri-Plex Superfund site in Woburn, Massachusetts, is located 12 miles outside of Boston. From 1853 to 1969, several manufacturers produced chemicals, insecticides, munitions and glue products at the site. Large waste piles, heavy metals and hazardous chemicals collected on site. This waste resulted in groundwater, surface water, soil and sediment contamination. In 1983, EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL). Cleanup included placement of protective covers over contaminated parts of the site, dredging and off- site disposal of contaminated sediments, construction of wetlands, and institutional controls. The covers were compatible with productive reuse of the areas.
During and after initial cleanup activities, several public- and private-sector improvements took place. They included a new interstate highway exchange, public roads, a 200,000-square-foot shopping center, an office park and a hotel complex. Restored wetlands and grass-covered hills provide scenic open space at the site. The site’s successful redevelopment was recognized by the prestigious Phoenix Award in 2000. In 2001, the 34-acre, $10 million James Anderson Regional Transportation Center opened at the site. The center relieves congestion on highways leading into Boston and eases commutes for many area residents. In 2008 and 2009, additional redevelopment included a restaurant, a pet supply store and a furniture store. EPA, the state and local government worked with the developer to record property use restrictions, prepare work plans, remove a building and support the property’s transformation.
Construction of the final cleanup phase began in 2015 and was completed in 2017. Mitigation projects along the Aberjona River include constructed wetlands, floodplain enhancements, and the Aberjona Nature Trail, as well as a fish ladder at the Center Falls Dam in nearby Winchester. EPA continues to support the safe redevelopment of properties at the site, and prepared a 2018 Explanation of Significant Differences that enabled two mixed-use and residential projects to move forward. Construction of the first project, a 200-unit apartment community at 200 Presidential Way parcel, began in 2018 and was completed in 2019. Construction of the second project, a 289-unit luxury multi-family housing and over 9,000 square feet of commercial space development, began in 2019 and scheduled for completion in 2022. In addition, on September 2020, EPA deleted the 200 Presidential Way parcel from the NPL. Other redevelopment projects are planned to begin in 2021, including construction of New Boston Street Rail Road Bridge, 1.7 megawatt (MW), 0.8 MW and 0.3 MW solar roof top projects, a 0.2 MW Solar Car Port project, and a 3.8 megawatt Solar Electric Generating Facility.
Last updated August 2021
As of October 2022, EPA had data on 45 on-site businesses. These businesses employed 1,133 people and generated an estimated $306,668,742 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
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Iron Horse Park
The Iron Horse Park Superfund site is a 553-acre industrial complex in Billerica, Massachusetts. Industrial activities, which began in 1913, included manufacturing, rail yard maintenance, waste storage and landfilling. These operations resulted in soil, groundwater and surface water contamination.
EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1984. Cleanup activities are ongoing. They have included removing contaminated soil, backfilling areas with clean soil, capping contaminated soil areas, and closing and capping landfills. These activities supported the continued operation of industrial businesses on site, including lumber, manufacturing and rail yard maintenance facilities. Cleanup also restored natural marshes and new wetland habitats. In 2012, site stakeholders began a project to place solar panels on the Shaffer Landfill, a former waste disposal area. After coordinating with EPA and the state, the town of Billerica signed a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement in August 2013. The agreement guarantees project revenue over 25 years.
With the agreement in place, construction of the 25-acre solar array began in early 2014. Urban Green Technologies (UGT), the solar developer, placed 20,000 solar panels over the capped landfill. EPA worked with UGT to address the challenge of installing solar panels on the sloped landfill while ensuring its cap remained intact. In August 2014, EPA, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, UGT and the town of Billerica held a ceremony marking the project’s completion. The 6-megawatt facility allows the town to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and benefit from significant long-term energy cost savings. Since then, a 4-megawatt solar array was constructed on site, followed by a 6-megawatt array in 2017. The solar facilities allow the town of Billerica to benefit from significant long-term energy cost savings.
Last updated August 2021
As of October 2022, EPA had data on 9 on-site businesses. These businesses employed 382 people and generated an estimated $200,976,703 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
For more information:
- Reuse and the Benefit to Community: Iron Horse Park Superfund Site (PDF)
- Site Redevelopment Profile: Iron Horse Park Superfund Site (PDF)
- EPA Issues First "Re-use" Awards for New England Superfund Sites
- Superfund Site Profile Page
Lawrence Metals (Former)
The Former Lawrence Metals site is located in Chelsea, Massachusetts. From the late nineteenth century until 1974, when a fire destroyed the building, owner operators used the site property for textile production, barrel cleaning and painting. From 1979 to 1986, operators used the property for warehouse space. In 1986, the Lawrence Metals Forming Company began operating on site. Its operations resulted in the contamination of soil and site materials. In 1999, the city of Chelsea acquired the site property under an Urban Renewal Plan. The city demolished the site building in 2000. EPA, the city and state agencies coordinated cleanup, including the excavation of contaminated soil. The project was particularly challenging because of its proximity to a school and a city swimming pool. An upscale, extended-stay hotel is now located on site.
Last updated August 2021
As of October 2022, EPA had data on one on-site business. This business employed 25 people and generated an estimated $1,510,000 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
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Materials Technology Laboratory (USARMY)
The 48-acre Materials Technology Laboratory (USARMY) Superfund site, better known as the Arsenal, is located in Watertown, Massachusetts. In 1816, the U.S. Army began operations at the site; 10,000 people worked on the site by the end of World War II. The Army used the site for a variety of military- and war-related activities, including weapons and ammunition manufacturing and storage. In the 1960s, the U.S. Army used the site for nuclear reactor and molecular and atomic structure research activities. Wastes generated by the facility contaminated soil and groundwater at several areas across the site.
EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1994. Cleanup removed contamination and demolished an on-site nuclear reactor. From 1996 to 2005, the Watertown Arsenal Development Corporation (WADC) helped redevelop 30 acres of the site. Harvard University bought the area and built a mixed-use complex called Arsenal on the Charles, which incorporates the style and architecture of the original brick buildings in the area. The complex includes stores, restaurants, a child-care facility, a fitness center, corporate offices and other businesses. The Arsenal Center for the Arts, also in the complex, is an important cultural asset in the community; it has a theater, gallery space, artists’ studios, and other resources and services. The Commander’s Mansion, a historic landmark, occupies a 7.2-acre area of the site; it provides space for meetings and formal functions. The popular Squibnocket Park is located on an 11-acre parcel along the Charles River; it provides biking and walking trails, as well as access to the Watertown Yacht Club, a privately owned marina since 1940. The U.S. Army restored wetlands along the Charles River. EPA deleted the site from the NPL in 2006; some cleanup activities are still ongoing. The site’s largest employer, athenahealth, employs 1,500 people at the Watertown location. Altogether, site businesses employ about 2,200 people, providing estimated annual employment income of $315 million and generating over $410 million in estimated annual sales revenue. Site properties have a combined value of about $187 million and generate $4.5 million in annual property tax revenues.
Last updated August 2021
As of December 2021, EPA had data on 15 on-site businesses. These businesses employed 1,724 people and generated an estimated $358,584,882 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
For more information:
- Reuse and the Benefit to Community Materials Technology Laboratory Superfund Site (PDF)
- Superfund Site Profile Page
Natick Laboratory Army Research, Development and Engineering Center
The 78-acre former Natick Laboratory Army Research, Development, and Engineering Center Superfund site in Natick, Massachusetts, is now known as the U.S. Army Soldier Systems Center (SSC). The site occupies a peninsula on the eastern shore of Lake Cochituate State Park and Recreation Area. The U.S. Army built the Natick Laboratory in 1954. The U.S. Army conducted research and development activities on site. These activities contaminated soil, groundwater and surface water with hazardous chemicals. In 1989, personnel at the facility noticed a sheen on water running off the site during rainstorms. Construction workers also noticed a benzene-like odor in soil on site. The U.S. Army conducted soil gas surveys and detected several volatile organic compounds. Soil, groundwater and surface waste sampling also showed contamination.
EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1994. Cleanup activities included groundwater containment, treatment and monitoring, soil excavation and removal, and sediment removal. Treated groundwater is reused as non- drinkable water for irrigation and toilets. The SSC still operates a U.S. Army research and testing facility on site. The facility researches, develops and manages food, clothing, shelters, airdrop systems and soldier support items. The facility currently employs about 1,000 people.
Last updated August 2021
As of December 2021, EPA did not have economic data related to on-site businesses, or economic data were not applicable due to site use. For additional information click here.
For more information:
New Bedford
The 18,000-acre New Bedford Harbor Superfund site is located in New Bedford, Massachusetts. At least two companies produced capacitors and other electronics containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on site from 1940 to the late 1970s. Operations discharged industrial wastes into the harbor, which contaminated the estuary from the upper Acushnet River into Buzzards Bay. In 1983, EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL). Ongoing cleanup activities include the removal and disposal of contaminated shoreline soils, saltmarshes and mudflats at approved off-site facilities, and replanting impacted saltmarsh areas with thousands of native grasses, shrubs and trees. Subtidal dredging (below the low tide line) was completed in March 2020.
The city of New Bedford plans to reuse EPA’s 5-acre shoreline sediment dewatering facility as an intermodal transportation facility. The facility, located on the city’s working waterfront, includes berthing space for freighters and commercial fishing vessels, a 55,000-square-foot warehouse, and a rail spur that connects to the city’s rail yard. This facility was handed over to the City in December 2020 (after extensive decontamination) and was then used as a Covid-19 vaccination site for the working waterfront. In addition, in 2011, EPA completed demolition of the 11-acre Aerovox mill, located along the Acushnet River. Once the ongoing state-led cleanup of the upland portion of the former Aerovox mill is completed, the property will provide the city with space for potential future shoreline redevelopment. Residents use the harbor for recreational activities such as rowing and boating.
Additionally, the cleanup plan allows for navigational dredging efforts by local and state stakeholders. Dredging of harbor channels, which enhances the remedy by removing sediment not addressed by the Superfund cleanup, has resulted in private investment to the commercial port. It paved the way for the recent construction of the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal, a 28-acre marine terminal designed to support development of off-shore wind energy.
Redevelopment along the river is ongoing. Projects include the repurposing of many former mills for apartments and commercial space. Finally, plans include a riverwalk along the Upper Harbor and habitat restoration, which will draw residents back to the waterfront for recreational activities. EPA’s cleanup will address contamination along the shoreline prior to construction of the Riverwalk. Completion of the cleanup will allow for further redevelopment and repurposing of buildings along the shoreline.
Last updated August 2021
As of December 2021, EPA did not have economic data related to on-site businesses, or economic data were not applicable due to site use. For additional information click here.
For more information:
- Site Redevelopment Profile: New Bedford (PDF)
- Reuse Fact Sheet: New Bedford Superfund Site (PDF)
- Superfund Site Profile Page
Norwood PCBs
The 26-acre Norwood PCBs Superfund site is located in Norwood, Massachusetts. From 1942 through the mid- 1980s, several businesses made and maintained electrical components on site. During site investigations, EPA found polychlorinated biphenyls in soil and groundwater on site and in the sediment of a nearby brook.
In 1986, EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL). Cleanup included removing contaminated soil and sediment and consolidating it beneath an asphalt cap. It also included demolition of on-site structures and long-term monitoring. A groundwater treatment facility operated on site until 2001. In 2008, the site owner and developers completed a 56,000-square-foot commercial retail facility on site. Developers located new buildings next to the capped area. They increased the thickness of the asphalt cap remedy to allow for its use as a parking lot. An athletic goods retailer and a fitness gym are currently located in the facility. EPA took the site off the NPL in 2011.
Last updated August 2021
As of October 2022, EPA had data on 19 on-site businesses. These businesses employed 263 people and generated an estimated $46,216,990 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
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Nyanza Chemical Waste Dump
The 35-acre Nyanza Chemical Waste Dump Superfund site is located in Ashland, Massachusetts. From 1917 to 1978, various companies made textile dyes, dye intermediates and other products at the site. Operators buried solid waste on site and released wastewater into a system of lagoons and storage areas that were periodically drained. Solid material was placed on Megunko hill, and wastewater was directed to series of drainageways and wetlands to the Sudbury River. These improper waste-handling practices resulted in groundwater, soil and sediment contamination.
EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. In the mid-1990s, data from indoor air samples collected in buildings located above a contaminated groundwater plume emanating from the site indicated potentially unsafe levels of volatile organic chemicals in indoor air. Site remedial activities have included excavating sludge and contaminated soils and sediments from the Site property and surrounding wetland areas, placing a landfill cap over contaminated soils, and installing sub-slab depressurization systems to stop VOC vapors from migrating into buildings. Remedial efforts have also included extensive wetland restoration. Sediment and fish tissue monitoring for mercury has also been conducted in impacted reaches of the Sudbury River, and fish consumption advisories have been posted. Several businesses, including NYACOL Nano Technologies, continue to operate on or adjacent to the site. In December 2019, a solar array was constructed and began operating on the site's landfill cap. Together, this array along with a nearby off-site solar array, can generate up to 5.8 megawatts of electricity.
Last updated August 2021
As of October 2022, EPA had data on 8 on-site businesses. These businesses employed 41 people and generated an estimated $12,380,770 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
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Otis Air National Guard Base/Camp Edwards
The 22,000-acre Otis Air National Guard Base/Camp Edwards Superfund site is located on western Cape Cod in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. Also known as Joint Base Cape Cod (JBCC) (formerly known as Massachusetts Military Reservation until July 13, 2013), the site lies about 60 miles south of Boston and is immediately southeast of the Cape Cod Canal. Since its establishment in 1935, JBCC's primary mission has been to provide training and housing to U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army units. Historical chemical and fuel spills, fire training activities, and sewage treatment plant, landfill and drainage structure operations contaminated site soil and groundwater. Investigations in 1983 and 1984 found volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in on-site and nearby monitoring wells, as well as in several hundred private wells. Other site contaminants include heavy metals.
EPA listed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) in November 1989. EPA documented the site cleanup plan in over 15 Records of Decision. Cleanup activities include installation of water supply lines to affected residents, installation of municipal water supply well treatment systems, treatment of 100,000 tons of soil, and construction and operation of many on-site and off-site groundwater treatment plants. Groundwater treatment systems currently operate on eight groundwater plumes. EPA has completed cleanups at 25 source areas. Cleanup of a few former plumes have been completed. Investigations of PFAS and former military munitions sites are ongoing as long-term cleanup of contamination groundwater plumes continue.
The Barnstable County Correctional Facility, a jail with capacity for about 580 inmates, began operating on site in 2004. The Air Force installed three 1.5-megawatt wind turbines – one in 2009 and two in 2011 – to offset electrical costs for groundwater cleanup systems at the site. The Air Force estimates that the wind energy saves about $1.5 million a year in electricity costs. EPA’s plans enabled continued site operations during cleanup. Today, five major organizations use the site: 1) the Massachusetts Air National Guard (ANG) operates Camp Edwards; 2) the ANG/Massachusetts ANG operates Otis ANG Base; 3) the U.S. Air Force operates the Cape Cod Air Force Station; 4) the U.S. Coast Guard operates Air Station Cape Cod; and 5) the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs operates the Massachusetts National Cemetery. As of May 2017, the base employed over 3,800 people and had a total economic impact of almost $331 million.
Last updated August 2021
As of December 2010, EPA had data on 9 on-site businesses. These businesses employed 789 people. For additional information click here.
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Parsons Paper Mill
The 4.6-acre Parsons Paper site is located in Holyoke, Massachusetts. From 1896 to 2004, operators made writing and stationary paper as well as artist paper and archival paper for the art and framing industries on site. In 2008, a fire destroyed about 50% of the mill. The fire also damaged remaining parts of the interconnected building complex. In 2009, EPA sampling identified asbestos in the burned areas. Sources of asbestos includes asphalt shingles, window glazing and caulking, tank and pipe insulation, transite siding, cements and mastics, and floor tiles. In 2009 and 2010, EPA removed hazardous materials and asbestos that posed a threat to public health. In 2016, building demolition began for the expansion of Holyoke manufacturer Aegis Energy Services on site.
Last updated August 2021
As of October 2022, EPA had data on one on-site business. EPA did not have further economic details related to this business. For additional information click here.
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Peabody Street Asbestos
The Peabody Street Asbestos site is located in Salem, Massachusetts. The city of Salem identified asbestos during construction of a park in the downtown area. EPA excavated contaminated soil because of the urban setting and because the city and state did not have funds for the excavation. EPA recovered most expenses from the polluter. The city resumed construction of the park after EPA completed the excavation. Completed in 2010, the Peabody Street Park/Harborwalk serves as a gateway to the city of Salem’s harbor. The park includes a playground, a canopy area, and seating for outdoor entertainment as well as game tables, benches and landscaping.
Last updated August 2021
As of October 2022, EPA did not have economic data related to on-site businesses, or economic data were not applicable due to site use. For additional information click here.
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PSC Resources
The 4-acre PSC Resources Superfund site is located in Palmer, Massachusetts. From 1974 to 1978, waste oil and solvent recovery and disposal resulted in spills contaminating soils, sediments and groundwater. EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. EPA dug up contaminated soils and sediment, treated them, and put them under an impermeable cap, which has been vegetated. A fence preventing access has been placed around the capped material. A Mobil Oil Company pipeline runs along a corridor south of the site. The site includes forest and wetland areas that are used by local residents for recreation activities.
Last updated August 2021
As of October 2022, EPA did not have economic data related to on-site businesses, or economic data were not applicable due to site use. For additional information click here.
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Re-Solve, Inc.
The 6-acre Re-Solve, Inc. Superfund site is a former waste chemical reclamation facility in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts. Between 1956 and 1980, site operators disposed of residues from operations, liquid sludge waste, impure solvents and burned tires in on-site unlined lagoons. Site operators also spread oil waste over the site to control dust.
EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. EPA and the site’s potentially responsible parties (PRPs) constructed a groundwater pump-and-treat system at the site. The system has operated continuously since 1998. As part of the cleanup, EPA and the PRPs restored 1 acre of wetlands at the site. The PRPs also worked closely with EPA and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to convert 4 acres of the site into a native meadow for ecological reuse. The PRPs placed bird boxes, brush piles and sand piles for turtles to enhance the meadow habitat. An annual fishing derby at Cornell Pond on site engages the community in fish monitoring activities. EPA and the PRPs have also collaboratively evaluated sustainable treatment enhancements for the groundwater treatment system since 2004. In 2015, two anaerobic bio-reactor systems were located on site. The systems are underground, contained biological treatment beds where living organisms break down contamination. This process reduces the use of chemicals and the need for waste disposal. The groundwater treatment system is powered entirely by 644 solar panels.
Last updated August 2021
As of October 2022, EPA had data on one on-site business. EPA did not have further economic details related to this business. For additional information click here.
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Salem Acres
The 235-acre Salem Acres Superfund site is in Salem, Massachusetts. From 1946 to 1969, part of the site received waste from the South Essex Sewerage District. The waste was placed in unlined pits on the site. Other areas of the site were used for fly ash disposal and a landfill. The unlined pits, the fly ash pile and the landfill contained hazardous substances.
EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1986. From 1995 to 1999, responsible parties removed and disposed of site contamination, with EPA oversight. The cleanup restored the site for unrestricted land use. EPA took the site off the NPL in 2001. In 2019, a developer expanded a nearby neighborhood of single-family homes onto part of the site.
Last updated August 2021
As of October 2022, EPA did not have economic data related to on-site businesses, or economic data were not applicable due to site use. For additional information click here.
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Shpack Landfill
The 9.4-acre Shpack Landfill site is located in Attleboro and Norton, Massachusetts. The landfill operated from 1946 until the 1970s. The landfill received domestic and industrial wastes, including inorganic and organic chemicals, as well as radioactive waste ashes associated with nuclear fuel operations. Facility operations contaminated soil, sediment and groundwater with hazardous chemicals. EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1986. Cleanup included excavation and off-site disposal of contaminated soil, installation of a water supply line, stormwater drainage improvements, wetland creation and restoration, and institutional controls. Routine maintenance and monitoring activities are ongoing to ensure wetland system health.
Last updated August 2021
As of October 2022, EPA did not have economic data related to on-site businesses, or economic data were not applicable due to site use. For additional information click here.
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South Weymouth Naval Air Station
The South Weymouth Naval Air Station consists of 1,442 acres in the towns of Weymouth, Abington and Rockland, Massachusetts. Military operations at the site included aviation training, aircraft maintenance and refueling, personnel training, housing and administrative support services. Waste disposal activities also took place at the site. Sampling confirmed on-site contamination in 1991.
EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1994. The base closed under the Base Realignment and Closure Act (BRAC) and cleanup began in 1997. Cleanup activities included soil covers, removals, groundwater treatment and land use restrictions. The local reuse authority, the National Park Service, U.S. Coast Guard and the Federal Aviation Administration have received over 1,300 acres of the site. Redevelopment efforts are ongoing, with over 1,200 residences and a 25-acre athletic complex currently located on site. Current mixed-use zoning allows for up to 6 million square feet of commercial space and nearly 4,000 residences along with approximately 1,000 acres of open space.
Last updated August 2021
As of December 2021, EPA did not have economic data related to on-site businesses, or economic data were not applicable due to site use. For additional information click here.
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Sullivan's Ledge
The Sullivan’s Ledge Superfund site is located in New Bedford, Massachusetts. A 12-acre quarry operated on site until 1921. In 1935, the city of New Bedford took over the site and turned it into a dump for hazardous materials. Waste disposal activities took place on site from the 1940s through the 1970s. The city then closed the dump and backfilled the disposal areas. In 1982, during investigations associated with a proposed parking lot development, the Massachusetts Department of Public Works, now the Massachusetts Highway Department, found soil contamination at the site.
EPA conducted studies in the area and placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1984. Cleanup activities included removing contaminated soil and sediment and capping the site. Institutional Controls are recorded with the Registry of Deeds to prevent uncontrolled access to the remaining contamination. Cleanup also included removing contamination from a neighboring golf course. EPA’s approach allowed for continued use of the golf course during cleanup. EPA also restored 13 acres of affected wetlands. Restoration work finished in 2002. Today, the wetlands provide habitat for many wildlife species, including the great blue heron, great egret, red-tailed hawk and spotted turtle.
EPA’s Superfund Redevelopment Program and Region 1 conducted an assessment of the site in 2010 as part of an effort to evaluate opportunities for using Superfund sites in Massachusetts for solar energy. In 2013, EPA approved the installation of a 1.75-megawatt solar project on the capped part of the site. Project partners SunEdison, Beaumont Solar, Pro-Tech Energy Solutions and BlueWave Capital completed construction in 2014. The 10-acre system includes more than 5,000 solar panels. A partnership between BlueWave Capital and the city of New Bedford is supporting further solar projects around New Bedford. The city of New Bedford buys energy generated from the solar arrays. This enables the city to increase its use of renewable energy sources and save 30% on municipal electricity bills. Over the course of 20 years, New Bedford will save about $2.7 million in energy costs through the purchase of solar net metering credits. In 2014, EPA recognized the project team, including the city of New Bedford, BlueWave Capital and SunEdison, with Region 1’s first Excellence in Site Reuse Award.
Last updated August 2021
As of October 2022, EPA had data on 2 on-site businesses. EPA did not have further economic details related to these businesses. For additional information click here.
For more information:
- Utility-Scale Solar Energy Development: The Sullivan's Ledge Superfund Site in New Bedford, Massachusetts (PDF)
- EPA Issues First "Re-use" Awards for New England Superfund Sites
- Superfund Site Profile Page
Sutton Brook Disposal Area
The 50-acre Sutton Brook Disposal Area Superfund site is located in Tewksbury, Massachusetts. From 1957 until 1988, a landfill operated on site, accepting municipal, commercial and industrial wastes. Waste disposal practices led to soil, sediment, surface water, groundwater and air contamination. In 1983, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection inspected the landfill and took water samples from a nearby brook. The samples showed the presence of organic compounds.
EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) in July 2000. EPA performed three short-term cleanups on and near the site, excavating and removing highly contaminated soils and drums. The site’s long-term remedy included excavation of additional soils and sediments, consolidation of this material in on-site landfills, landfill capping, and wetlands restoration. It also included groundwater collection and treatment, monitored natural attenuation for groundwater outside the extraction system area, institutional controls and long-term monitoring. Cleanup finished in July 2016. The site now includes restored wetlands, providing habitat for local plants and animals. In June 2020, MassDEP approved the town of Tewksbury’s request to install solar arrays on the site.
Last updated August 2021
As of October 2022, EPA did not have economic data related to on-site businesses, or economic data were not applicable due to site use. For additional information click here.
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Universal Steel Trading Corporation
The 1.2-acre Former Universal Steel site is located in Salem, Massachusetts. From 1936 to 1998, metal recycling and reclamation activities took place on the site property. Activities included processing scrap metals and demolition debris, dismantling and processing transformers, and stockpiling automotive batteries. These activities contaminated site soil. EPA, the city of Salem, MassDevelopment and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection worked together to clean up the site. Cleanup activities included excavation and off-site disposal of contaminated soil and debris, collection and disposal of lubrication oil, asbestos removal, and building demolition. FW Webb, a plumbing supply company, is buying the site property. FW Webb plans to use the property for parking, loading and storage as part of an 8,000-square-foot addition to an existing facility next door.
As of October 2022, EPA did not have economic data related to on-site businesses, or economic data were not applicable due to site use. For additional information click here.
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W.R. Grace & Co., Inc. (Acton Plant)
The 260-acre W.R. Grace & Co., Inc. (Acton Plant) Superfund site is located in the towns of Acton and Concord, Massachusetts. For over 100 years, different companies operated a chemical manufacturing facility on site. W.R. Grace, the last site owner, ceased all operations in 1991. Facility operators created wastewater and solid industrial wastes and disposed of them in several unlined lagoons and an on-site landfill. These practices contaminated soils, groundwater, surface water and sediments. In 1978, investigations found contamination in two municipal wells in Acton. EPA directed W.R. Grace to begin interim cleanup actions at the site.
EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) in September 1983. Interim cleanup actions included groundwater extraction and treatment and removal of hazardous storage tanks. Final cleanup actions included landfill and lagoon closure, capping of site soils and sludges, sediment dredging and removal, additional groundwater extraction and treatment, and restoration of site wetlands. EPA’s Superfund Redevelopment Program and Region 1 conducted an assessment of the site in 2010 as part of an effort to evaluate opportunities for using Superfund sites in Massachusetts for solar energy. After the site’s remedy was in place, the town of Concord took ownership of a 70-acre parcel at the site in 2016. The first phase of the town’s three-phase reuse plan involved construction of a 4.5-megawatt solar array, which was completed in early 2017. This project added more green, competitively priced energy to the town's power supply portfolio. It is expected to supply 4.5% of the town's power supply needs, enough to power 625 homes. Additionally, the solar array will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and offset the town's peak demand for electricity by 10%. The phases of Concord’s reuse plan, construction of a school bus depot at the site, was completed in August 2017. Planning for a second solar array on the Site northwest of the current installation is currently under way.
Last updated August 2021
As of October 2022, EPA had data on 4 on-site businesses. These businesses employed 24 people and generated an estimated $5,423,600 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
For more information:
- Site Redevelopment Profile: W.R. Grace & Co., Inc. (Acton Plant) Superfund Site (PDF)
- Superfund Site Profile Page
Wells G&H
The Wells G&H Superfund site includes 330 acres of land and contaminated groundwater in Woburn, Massachusetts with a mixture of commercial/industrial and residential properties. Past operations at the site include dry cleaning, solvent storage, truck terminals, drum disposal and plastics manufacturing. In 1979, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) discovered significant levels of hazardous chemicals in two municipal supply wells. The wells were known as wells G and H. MassDEP closed the wells. EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. Cleanup included treatment of contaminated soils, excavation and disposal of debris and mixed contaminated soil, and extraction and treatment of source-area groundwater, as well as removal of contaminated sediment and restoration. Cleanup activities are ongoing across the site.
In 2000, EPA’s Superfund Redevelopment Program awarded the Woburn city government a pilot grant to complete a comprehensive land use plan for the site. Three of the site’s responsible parties contributed additional funding for the effort. The land use plan identified reuse scenarios for three priority site areas: the Aberjona Auto Parts property, the city of Woburn property and the W.R. Grace property. The reuse scenario for the Aberjona Auto Parts property focused on an ice arena for local hockey leagues, where construction of the Holland Arena was completed in 2008. The property owner also leases parts of the property to small businesses. The reuse scenario for the city of Woburn property identified public open space and passive recreation, where the Aberjona Nature Trail was constructed along the Aberjona River and opened to the public in 2017. The reuse scenario for the W.R. Grace property commercial/hotel, where Madison Woburn Holdings LLC purchased the property in 2014, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews opened in 2016 and a 110 Grill and Chick-Fil-A opened in 2019, and a Homewood Suites and Hampton Inn hotel opened in 2019. Also, the UniFirst property will complete the installation and electrical generation of 310 KW solar energy system on the roof of their commercial building in 2021.
Last updated August 2021
As of October 2022, EPA had data on 326 on-site businesses. These businesses employed 3,040 people and generated an estimated $654,371,499 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
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