EPA is in the process of implementing the selected groundwater remedy for OU2, which includes additional DNAPL investigations, replacing and upgrading an existing DNAPL extraction system, conducting expanded groundwater monitoring, and in-situ treatment of groundwater in/near the contaminant source area to lower concentrations of VOCs in the groundwater a...
| City | Ashland |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| State | Massachusetts |
| Coordinates | 42.25861, -71.47361 |
Nyanza Chemical Waste Dump is a federal Superfund site in Massachusetts. The Superfund program, created by Congress in 1980, addresses sites where hazardous substances have been released or threaten release into the environment. EPA scores potential sites using the Hazard Ranking System; those that score high enough are placed on the National Priorities List.
Current status: Cleanup underway. Active cleanup is underway, meaning EPA has approved a remediation plan and work is in progress. Cleanup timelines vary widely — some sites take decades depending on contamination depth, groundwater involvement, and funding availability.
EPA has identified 10 contaminants of concern at this site, including 1,1,1-trichloroethane, 1,1-dichloroethene, 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene. Contamination has been detected in groundwater, surface water, soil gas, sediment, fish tissue, sludge.
If you live near this site and have health concerns, your state health department can provide site-specific guidance. EPA maintains a community involvement program for most NPL sites, and site documents — including the Record of Decision, five-year reviews, and public health assessments — are typically available through EPA's Superfund site profile.