EPA Unveils $9.25M Cleanup Plan for Sawyer St. Site
The remediation aims to prepare the New Bedford property for future mixed-use development by next summer.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Commercial
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The Environmental Protection Agency has unveiled a $9.25 million cleanup plan for the property at 103 Sawyer St. in New Bedford. This remediation, which aims to remove PCB soil contamination to prepare the site for future mixed-use development, is expected to be complete by next summer.
Why it matters
Cleaning up toxic PCB pollutants is a necessary step for the city to transform the long-vacant site into a productive, mixed-use space. This work follows the agency's broader efforts to restore the New Bedford-Fairhaven Harbor area.
The EPA's $9.25 million cleanup project will address contamination across the site, including soil removal up to 3 feet deep. The plan includes a 30-year maintenance program to manage the property.
The players
Environmental Protection Agency
The federal agency responsible for setting and enforcing environmental standards to protect public health.
City of New Bedford
The municipal government responsible for property management and urban development planning.
The details
Contractors will remove the top 3 feet of soil across the site and replace it with clean material to address PCB pollutants. Because contamination exists deeper than 3 feet at the northern edge of the property, the site will require ongoing land use controls to manage remaining materials. The plan also maintains an existing containment cell on the eastern side of the property, which is expected to be covered with vegetation over time.
Timeline
The city has owned the 103 Sawyer St. property since the 1940s.
The EPA finished its in-water cleanup of the nearby harbor in late 2025.
The EPA presented the remediation plan on October 28, 2026.
Remediation work is expected to take place over the next six months.
The site is projected to be ready for development by summer 2027.
Money Landscape
This project continues the multi-year effort to remediate toxic sites near the New Bedford-Fairhaven Harbor, a long-standing federal priority. It marks a shift from in-water environmental restoration toward land-based economic development.
Property owners and investors should monitor how the cleanup timeline impacts the availability of mixed-use real estate in the city. Future development on this site may affect local property values and commercial tax revenue once the land is ready for private use.
The takeaway
The EPA's investment clears the way for potential commercial growth at a property that has been city-owned for decades. Residents and business owners should watch for future city announcements regarding land-use designations once the cleanup concludes in 2027.
Further reading
You can find more analysis on local development trends in New Bedford Commercial.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The New Bedford Light.
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