Superfund record of decision (EPA Region 1): New Bedford Site, Upper and Lower Harbor Operable Units, New Bedford, MA, September 25, 1998

Technical Report · Mon Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1999

OSTI ID:350745

The Record of Decision sets forth the selected remedial action for the Upper and Lower Harbors of the New Bedford Harbor Superfund Site in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The major components of the selected remedy include: Approximately 450,000 cubic yards of sediment contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) will be removed; In certain shoreline areas prone to beach combing, sediments between the high and low tide levels will be removed if above 25 ppm PCBs; Four shoreline CDFs will be constructed to contain and isolate the dredged sediments; Once the dredged sediments are placed in the CDFs, the large volumes of water brought in by the dredging process will be decanted and treated to low levels before discharge back to the Harbor; Once full, first an interim and then a final cap will be constructed at each CDF; The capped CDFs will be monitored and maintained over the long term to ensure their integrity; Institutional controls, including seafood advisories, no-fishing signs and educational campaigns will be implemented to minimize ingestion of local PCB-contaminated seafood until PCBs in seafood reach safe levels; Once completed, the CDFs will be available for beneficial reuse as shoreline open space, parks or, in the case of the lower harbor CDF, a commercial marine facility; and A review of the Site will take place every five years after the initiation of the remedial action to assure that the remedy continues to protect human health and the environment.

• Research Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Emergency and Remedial Response, Washington, DC (United States)
• OSTI ID: 350745
• Report Number(s): PB--98-963709/XAB; EPA--541-R98-126
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
DREDGING
HARBORS
MASSACHUSETTS
POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS
REMEDIAL ACTION
SEDIMENTS
SHORES
SITE CHARACTERIZATION
US SUPERFUND