Lower Neponset River Superfund site undergoes expedited investigation, cleanup
Removal action activity is beginning this spring at the Boston site, EPA officials say.
On April 14 in Mattapan, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator David Cash met with U.S. Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, City of Boston officials, and local residents to discuss EPA's ongoing efforts to expedite assessment and cleanup work associated with the Lower Neponset River Superfund site. EPA has several concurrent efforts underway which underscore the Agency's commitment to prioritize work along the 3.7 miles of the Neponset River that were listed on the National Priorities List (aka Superfund) in March 2022. At the time of designating this site for Superfund attention, EPA committed to moving as expeditiously as possible to address contamination in this densely populated urban area.
EPA has taken steps to ensure that engineering and cost evaluation to support upcoming sampling and remedial actions is in place. Later this Spring, sediment, soil, and surface water sampling will take place from the confluence of the Mother Brook and the Neponset River to the T&H dam. This sampling will provide data to evaluate strategies to prevent the migration and uncontrolled release of highly contaminated PCB-sediment from the T&H dam impoundment and hotspot depositional areas. EPA is also continuing its evaluation at Riverside Square and will soon decide on cleanup actions at that location. Finally, EPA is mobilizing resources to pursue cleanup work at the Lewis Chemical site, a location within the designated Superfund site.