Sutton Brook Disposal Area

Overview

Sutton Brook Disposal Area is a 50-acre former landfill in Tewksbury, Massachusetts. Waste disposal began in 1957 as a burning dump and continued until 1982, with waste acceptance persisting through 1988. The site accepted municipal, commercial, and industrial waste despite rules limiting it to Tewksbury municipal refuse. EPA added it to the National Priorities List in June 2001.

The site has more than 80 contaminants of concern spread across multiple media. Groundwater contains volatile organic compounds like trichloroethene, benzene, and chloroform, along with metals such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, and lead. Soil holds heavy metals, petroleum-derived compounds, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons like benzo(a)pyrene. Surface water and sediment contain contaminants including toluene, xylenes, and DDT. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, were also detected in groundwater at levels exceeding federal and state drinking water standards, though the contamination stays within site boundaries.

Cleanup construction began in 2014 and wrapped up in 2016. The remedy included excavating contaminated soils and sediments, consolidating waste in on-site landfills with a cap, collecting and treating groundwater, monitored natural attenuation for remaining contamination, and institutional controls like deed restrictions. Buried drums were excavated in 2000, and contaminated soils were removed in 2000 and 2007. Since construction finished, extracted groundwater has continued to be treated, and the landfill cap and wetland restoration areas receive regular inspection and maintenance. The site achieved sitewide ready for anticipated use status in March 2022.

Human exposure is under control and groundwater migration is stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. However, a Five-Year Review completed in May 2024 flagged PFAS as a concern. Sampling in spring 2025 confirmed PFAS levels at many wells exceed standards. EPA and state regulators are working with responsible parties to evaluate those findings. Additional PFAS studies are planned for 2026 and 2027. EPA also recommended finalizing plume maps, updating groundwater use restriction areas with local towns, and issuing updated cleanup decision documents for surface water, sediment, and soil. The site has not yet been deleted from the National Priorities List.

Community members can contact the EPA staff assigned to the site. Public records are available at the Tewksbury Public Library and at the EPA Region 1 records center in Boston. Institutional controls will remain in place as long as contamination or cleanup components stay on site, limiting land use to prevent unsafe exposure.