Saco Municipal Landfill

⚠ Superfund · Ready for anticipated reuse

The site’s long-term remedy included landfill capping, monitored natural attenuation for the site’s groundwater contamination, and land use restrictions. EPA is working with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (ME DEP) and the City of Saco to oversee a long-term monitoring program to evaluate the natural attenuation.

Location

CitySaco
CountyYork County
StateMaine
Coordinates43.53020, -70.48150

Contaminants of concern

Contaminated media

Cleanup timeline

  1. Initial Assessment Completed — 07/01/1980
  2. Proposed to the National Priorities List — 06/24/1988
  3. Finalized on the National Priorities List — 02/21/1990
  4. Remedial Investigation Started — 09/26/1995
  5. Final Remedy Selected — 09/29/2000
  6. Remedial Action Started — Not Yet Achieved
  7. Construction Completed — 09/29/2000
  8. Deleted from National Priorities List — Not Yet Achieved
  9. Most Recent Five-Year Review — 09/08/2025
  10. Achieved Sitewide Ready for Anticipated Reuse — 12/21/2010

EPA references

EPA-regulated facilities nearby

Understanding this Superfund site

Saco Municipal Landfill is a federal Superfund site in Maine. 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: Ready for anticipated reuse. EPA considers this site ready for anticipated reuse, meaning cleanup has progressed enough for certain land uses. This does not necessarily mean all contamination has been removed — institutional controls like deed restrictions may limit how the land can be used.

Contaminants of concern include arsenic, benzene, manganese. Contamination has been detected in groundwater.

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.