EPA to Review Cleanups at Eight New England Superfund Sites

Comprehensive reviews will ensure previous remediation efforts continue to protect public health and the environment.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will conduct comprehensive reviews of completed cleanup work at eight National Priorities List (NPL) Superfund sites across New England this year, including the Burlington Pine Street barge canal site. These legally required Five-Year Reviews will evaluate if the remedies are operating as intended and continue to protect stakeholders, communities, and the surrounding environment.

Why it matters

Five-Year Reviews provide an opportunity for the EPA to assess the implementation and performance of remedies at Superfund sites to ensure they remain protective of human health and the environment. This is especially important at sites where hazardous substances remain above levels that permit unlimited use and unrestricted exposure.

The details

The EPA will conduct Five-Year Reviews for eight Superfund sites in New England, including the Burlington Pine Street barge canal site. Upon completion, the reports will be available online on each site's individual profile page. The reviews are a legally required process to evaluate if previous cleanup efforts are still effective.

  • The EPA will conduct the Five-Year Reviews starting in 2026.

The players

EPA New England Regional Administrator Mark Sanborn

The EPA New England Regional Administrator overseeing the Five-Year Review process.

Burlington Pine Street barge canal superfund site

One of the eight Superfund sites in New England that will undergo a Five-Year Review by the EPA.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“As required by Superfund legislation, EPA is statutorily required to conduct comprehensive Five-Year Reviews on Superfund Sites across the New England Region. Making sure the remedy is operating as intended is important to protecting stakeholders, communities, and the surrounding environment.”

— Mark Sanborn, EPA New England Regional Administrator

The takeaway

The EPA's Five-Year Reviews of Superfund site cleanups in New England demonstrate the agency's ongoing commitment to ensuring previous remediation efforts continue to safeguard public health and the environment in these communities.