Hazardous Waste Release |New Bedford Harbor, MA| 1940s – 1970s

What Happened?

New Bedford Harbor is a major commercial fishing port and industrial center in southeastern Massachusetts on Buzzards Bay. From the 1940s to the 1970s, manufacturers discharged wastes containing  PCBspolychlorinated biphenyls; a class of chemicals previously used in manufacturing that remain in the environment for many decades, accumulate in living creatures, and pose health hazards to humans, wildlife, and fish. and toxic metals into New Bedford Harbor. This resulted in high levels of contamination throughout the waters, sediments, plants, and wildlife of the Harbor and parts of Buzzards Bay. Hundreds of acres of sediment were highly contaminated—in fact, one location contained the highest concentrations of PCBs ever documented in a marine environment.

What Were the Impacts?

• Biological: impaired reproduction and death of marine life throughout the estuary, and loss of marine biodiversity in areas of high contamination
• Economic: severe impacts due to long-term fishing closures, lost beach use, diminished property values, and reduced opportunities for coastal development

All told, 18,000 acres of marine waters were negatively affected by the contamination.

What’s Happening Now?

In 1992, we reached a natural resource damage assessment settlement with the responsible parties for $20.4 million. Since 1998, the New Bedford Harbor Trustee Council has implemented 37 restoration-related projects and is in the process of planning and implementing many more. These projects have helped restore:

• Salt marsh
• Other wetlands
• Eelgrass
• Migratory fish
• Terns

They have also enhanced habitat, increased recreational opportunities, and supported the preservation more than 690 acres of land. Clean up of the contamination in New Bedford Harbor continues.