To the Editor:
The US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) plan to clean up the first and most polluted mile of contaminated sediments in the 3.7-mile Lower Neponset River Superfund Site is a once-in-a generation opportunity for our communities. The first mile, in Hyde Park and Milton, is the subject of a new cleanup proposal just released by the EPA. Called an “Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis” or “EE/CA” report, it compares four different options.
The Neponset River Watershed Association strongly supports Option 4, which would fully clean up this stretch of the river-bottom as soon as possible. We encourage interested residents, businesses and organizations from Hyde Park, Mattapan, Dorchester and Milton to submit their own comments on this proposal by Aug. 1.
Comments can be emailed to R1Neponset@epa.gov or visit neponset.org for links to more EPA background material and the EPA online comment form.
This stretch of the Lower Neponset River has been burdened for many decades by industrial chemical contamination that poses a hazard not only to immediate neighbors but also to Mattapan, Dorchester, and Milton should a storm push this pollution farther downstream.
EPA’s proposed cleanup options range from doing nothing (Option 1), to leaving behind areas of contaminants at 100 times the safe level (Option 2), leaving behind contaminants at 14 times the safe level (Option 3), or cleaning them up fully now so this first mile of the Superfund site is safe for people and wildlife as soon as possible (Option 4).
Option 4 stands apart by committing to thorough sediment excavation, careful disposal of contaminants, and the deconstruction of the failing Tileston and Hollingsworth Dam. It is the only option that restores the river’s natural flow and health.
Option 4 eliminates ongoing health risks—especially to children and people who fish on the River and neighborhoods downstream where pollutants could migrate during a major storm.
Option 4 is likely cheaper, and definitely less disruptive to abutters, by fixing the problem all at once, rather than leaving unacceptable pollution levels behind and then having to come back later to remove more pollution.
Option 4 isn’t just about cleanup—it’s about reimagining the Neponset as a restored, recreational corridor. Trails, canoe launches, overlooks, and revitalized riverbanks could transform how communities interact with this natural resource. Option 4 lays the groundwork for this future, ensuring infrastructure supports access, safety, and ecological resurgence.
Option 4 is the choice that best aligns with community aspirations: a clean river, open spaces, public access, and a restored ecological balance. As residents and organizations, we have a responsibility to advocate for the most transformative outcome.
While we support Option 4, it’s important that EPA’s final design process looks more carefully at whether it might be safer and cheaper to remove more of the contaminated sediment rather than leaving it behind under a “cap,” and by making sure that the river channel is reshaped naturally to allow for both wildlife habitat and recreation during summer low flows after the cleanup is complete.
Please consider getting more involved by joining the EPA Community Advisory Group, which comprises local citizens who care about having a safe and clean river for their families and neighbors.
Email ripley@neponset.org to learn more.
Ian Cooke, Andres Ripley, and Karen Groce-Horan
Neponset River Watershed Association
