Document

Proposed CERCLA Administrative Cost Recovery Settlement: Bliss Corner Neighborhood Site, Dartmouth, Massachusetts

Notice is hereby given of a proposed settlement regarding the Bliss Corner Neighborhood Site, located in Dartmouth, Bristol County, Massachusetts, with the Settling Parties: the...

Environmental Protection Agency
  1. [CERCLA-01-2026-0048; FRL-13537-01-R1]

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice of proposed settlement; request for public comments.

SUMMARY:

Notice is hereby given of a proposed settlement regarding the Bliss Corner Neighborhood Site, located in Dartmouth, Bristol County, Massachusetts, with the Settling Parties: the City of New Bedford, Massachusetts, and the Town of Dartmouth, Massachusetts. The proposed settlement requires the Town to pay EPA $50,000 and provide in-kind services with an estimated value of $2.75 million and the City to pay EPA $1,000.00 to resolve the matter at the Bliss Corner Neighborhood Site, where EPA has incurred past response costs of $21,329,439.21 as of April 30, 2026. In exchange, EPA will provide the Settling Parties with a covenant not to sue or take administrative action relating to the site. The settlement has been approved by the Environmental and Natural Resources Division of the United States Department of Justice. For 30 days following the date of publication of this notice, the Agency will receive written comments relating to the settlement. The Agency will consider all comments received and may modify or withdraw its consent to this settlement if comments received disclose facts or considerations which indicate that the settlement is inappropriate, improper, or inadequate. The EPA's response to any comments received will be available for public inspection at the Environmental Protection Agency—Region 1, 5 Post Office Square, Suite 100, Boston, MA 02109-3912.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted by August 31, 2026.

ADDRESSES:

Comments should be addressed to Stacy Greendlinger, Senior Enforcement Coordinator, Superfund and Emergency Management Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 5 Post Office Square, Suite 100 (2-MI), Boston, MA 02109-3912, telephone number: (617) 918-1403, email address: and should reference the Bliss Corner Neighborhood Site, U.S. EPA Docket No: CERCLA 01-2026-0048.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

A copy of the proposed settlement may be obtained from Stacy Greendlinger, Superfund and Emergency Management Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 1, 5 Post Office Square, Suite 100 (02-2), Boston, MA 02109-3912, telephone number: (617) 918-1403, email address: . Direct technical questions to Stacy Greendlinger and legal questions to RuthAnn Sherman, Office of Regional Counsel, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 1, 5 Post Office Square, Suite 100 (4-WI), Boston, MA 02109-3912, telephone number: (617) 918-1886, email address: .

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This proposed settlement regarding the Bliss Corner Neighborhood Site, located in Dartmouth, Bristol County, Massachusetts, is made in accordance with Section 122(h)(1) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and the authority of the Attorney General of the United States to compromise and settle claims of the United States. EPA covenants not to sue ( printed page 48100) or take administrative action against the Settling Parties, the City of New Bedford and the Town of Dartmouth, pursuant to Sections 106 and 107(a) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. 9606 and 9607(a), for performance of remedial work or recovery of response costs related to the Bliss Corner Neighborhood Site, subject to standard reservations of rights. In exchange, the Town of Dartmouth agrees to pay EPA $50,000.00 and provide in-kind services with an estimated value of $2.75 million and based on the determination of financial inability to settle EPA's claim, the City of New Bedford agrees to pay EPA $1,000.00. Payment of such amounts shall be due within thirty days after the Effective Date.

For 30 days following the date of publication of this notice, the Agency will receive written comments relating to the settlement for recovery of response costs. The Effective Date of the Agreement is the date upon which EPA issues written notice to the City of New Bedford and the Town of Dartmouth that the public comment period has closed and that such comments, if any, do not require that EPA modify or withdraw from the Agreement.

Bryan Olson,

Director, Superfund and Emergency Management Division.

[FR Doc. 2026-15391 Filed 7-29-26; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

Legal Citation

Federal Register Citation

Use this for formal legal and research references to the published document.

91 FR 48099

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Suggested Web Citation

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“Proposed CERCLA Administrative Cost Recovery Settlement: Bliss Corner Neighborhood Site, Dartmouth, Massachusetts,” thefederalregister.org (July 30, 2026), https://thefederalregister.org/documents/2026-15391/proposed-cercla-administrative-cost-recovery-settlement-bliss-corner-neighborhood-site-dartmouth-massachusetts.