New Bedford to Clear Sawyer Street Site for Housing
The EPA plan will remove contaminated soil from the property to prepare the land for future residential development.
Updated on Oct. 25, 2026 in Home Cleaning
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The EPA is set to propose an updated cleanup plan on October 28, 2026, for the New Bedford Harbor Superfund Site. The project would allow the City of New Bedford to move forward with residential housing development on the Sawyer Street property.
Why it matters
This cleanup plan enables the redevelopment of land used for environmental support since the 1980s. By lowering PCB contamination thresholds, the proposal aims to make the Sawyer Street site safe for future residential use.
The EPA plan requires excavating contaminated soil to a depth of three feet, which will then be replaced with clean fill. The agency has scheduled a 30-day public comment period following the October 28 proposal.
The players
Environmental Protection Agency
The federal agency responsible for overseeing the cleanup of toxic waste sites and enforcing environmental regulations.
City of New Bedford
The local municipal government managing the Sawyer Street property redevelopment project.
The details
The cleanup process specifically targets soil with PCB levels exceeding 1 part per million. To prepare the Sawyer Street property for housing, crews will excavate to a depth of three feet and introduce clean replacement fill. Following the initial work, the EPA will implement permanent land use controls and a mandatory soil management plan to regulate any potential deeper soil disturbances in the future.
Timeline
1980s: The City of New Bedford began using the Sawyer Street property for cleanup support.
October 28, 2026: The EPA presents the draft cleanup proposal at a public meeting.
October 30, 2026: The public comment period begins.
November 28, 2026: The public comment period concludes.
The Home Front
This proposal follows the eighth Explanation of Significant Differences for the New Bedford Harbor site, a standard regulatory mechanism for updating cleanup plans. The shift reflects a broader trend of remediating former industrial support sites to address local housing shortages.
Residents interested in the future of the Sawyer Street property can review the draft proposal and submit feedback during the public comment period. Check the official EPA portal during the designated window in November to ensure your voice is heard regarding local land use.
The takeaway
This proposal outlines a specific path for residential conversion of the Sawyer Street site through rigorous soil removal. Residents should monitor the official EPA project page to track the outcome of the public comment process following the November 28, 2026 deadline.
Further reading
Learn more about local site remediation at the Home Cleaning section.
More information
For detailed site reports, visit the EPA New Bedford Harbor cleanup information.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Cool Down.
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