Hazardous Waste Site | Woburn, MA | 1853 to 1969

What Happened?

Between 1853 and 1969, The Industri-Plex Superfund Site was an industrial facility that produced pesticides, munitions, leather goods, and glue. Byproducts of these operations were released on the site contaminating groundwater, soil and sediments. During the 1970s, when the site was being developed for further industrial use, soil excavations uncovered and mixed the wastes and products accumulated for more than 130 years, aggravating the ongoing contamination.

In 1983, the site was designated as a Superfund site. In 2013, Bayer CropScience, Inc. and Pharmacia Corp agreed to provide approximately $4.25 million to the natural resource trustees to resolve the corporations’  liability for injuries to natural resources at the site. Approximately $3.8 million of the settlement is being used to fund the restoration of wetland, stream, and pond habitats within the impacted area.

What Were the Impacts?

The Industri-plex site originates from a 245-acre industrial park area in Woburn, MA. Manufacturing of pesticides, chemicals, glue and gelatin at the site, released heavy metals and other contaminants into the ground, polluting soils. Arsenic and chromium harmed Aberjona River sediment, wetlands, floodplains, fish and wildlife both at the site and further down the watershed in Woburn and Winchester, MA.

What's Happening Now?

NOAA and other Trustees completed the Final Restoration Plan in September 2020.  The restoration plan outlines projects selected by the Trustees. Funds from the natural resources damages settlement at the Site will be used to implement these projects. 

The Trustees are currently working with the City of Woburn and Town of Winchester to implement three restoration projects intended to compensate the public for injuries to natural resources resulting from hazardous substance releases at and from the site. The projects include:

• Restoration of wetland and stream habitat at the Shaker Glen Extension in Woburn; 

• Design and construction of the Scalley Dam fishway in Woburn; and, 

• Restoration of riparian habitat at Davidson Park in Winchester.