Cannon Engineering Corp. ran a hazardous waste transport, storage, and incineration facility on 7 acres in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. The site was proposed for the National Priorities List (NPL) in December 1982 and finalized on the list in September 1983 after contamination was found in soil, sediments, groundwater, surface water, and buildings. EPA deleted the site from the NPL in September 2013 after cleanup goals were met.
Contaminants found at the site include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, benzene, toluene, and xylene. The site also contains polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pesticides, heavy metals including arsenic and chromium, and other chemicals such as 1,4-dioxane and vinyl chloride. Wetlands to the south and Lake Nippenicket to the west are sensitive ecological areas near the site.
Cleanup began in 1982 when Massachusetts removed 155,000 gallons of sludge and liquid wastes along with about 700 drums. Between 1988 and 1991, EPA and responsible parties removed 400 tons of PCB-contaminated soil for incineration, excavated 11,330 tons of VOC-contaminated soil for on-site thermal treatment, and demolished the incinerator and other hazardous structures. After soil cleanup, groundwater was allowed to cleanse itself through monitored natural attenuation. Sampling from 1991 through 2010 showed groundwater leaving the site did not exceed federal drinking water standards. A 2013 risk assessment confirmed remaining contamination levels were protective of human health and the environment.
Human exposure is currently under control, with no unacceptable exposure pathways identified. Groundwater migration is also under control, with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. The site was redeveloped starting in the mid-1990s. Osterman Propane Distribution now operates a propane storage and distribution business on the property, and a cellular communication tower was added in 1998. One tracked on-site business employs 9 people and generates roughly $62.7 million in annual sales. Institutional controls remain in place to restrict groundwater use, limit excavation, and prevent residential or other incompatible land uses.
EPA completed its seventh Five Year Review on September 23, 2025, confirming that cleanup protections remain effective. Community members with questions can contact the EPA staff assigned to the site or visit records at the Bridgewater Public Library or the EPA Region 1 records center in Boston. More information is available at www.epa.gov/superfund/cannon.
