Haverhill Former MGP Site

This page was updated 1.27.2025. See updates from National Grid here: haverhillmgpsite6.wordpress.com

Project Overview

National Grid is in the process of an environmental cleanup at the former Haverhill Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP) Site located at 284 Winter Street in Haverhill, MA (“Site”). The Haverhill Environmental Remediation Project (“Project”) is a result of National Grid’s continued commitment to address environmental issues under the Massachusetts Contingency Plan.

The Project is working closely with local, state, and federal agencies including the Haverhill Conservation Commission, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and the United States Army Corps of Engineers to ensure that work is properly permitted, safely executed, and complies with environmental and other legal requirements.

Background

From 1853 to 1970, the Haverhill Manufactured Gas Plant, or MGP, used coal and oil to produce manufactured gas. Local consumers used the manufactured gas for the same purposes that we use natural gas today. The gas production process yielded by-products such as tar and oils, some of which are present in the Site subsurface and sediments within the Little River that runs next to the Site.

MGPs were common throughout the Northeast before the construction of the region’s natural gas pipelines, after which MGP operations ended. The former MGP Site operated in Haverhill until 1970.

Since 1977, the downtown Haverhill Project Site has operated as a gasoline service station, fuel oil distribution facility, and car wash.

In 2015, contamination was identified at the Site. Between November of 2019 and now, National Grid has been undertaking a multi-year project to study conditions by collecting soil and groundwater samples from the upland and sediment and surface water samples from the Little River. Because of the location of the contamination (below ground and in the river), there are currently no risks to human receptors, but National Grid has developed a comprehensive action plan to clean up the Site to protect human health and the environment.

Planned Remediation Efforts

The cleanup project will involve a combination of activities in the upland area and work within the Little River. Key activities include:

Upland Remediation: Most activities will occur within the existing parking lot area. These activities include the reduction and removal of benzene from the groundwater through a process of air injection and extraction. A series of wells will be drilled, and a piping network will be installed. The treatment system will inject air into the ground, and will extract and treat the injected air and vapors. In addition, coal tar material will be removed from the soil in certain areas and will be shipped to an approved facility for recycling or disposal. During this time, a temporary cap will be placed in the little river adjacent to the retaining wall. The cap will be made up of geotextile bags filled with gravel with treatment material attached to the bag, and will be placed using a crane.

River Remediation: The temporary cap will be removed and contaminated sediments from the bed of the Little River will be removed by dredging. Because the river is shallow and not very wide, the dredging will be done using small, specialized equipment. Some of the vegetation along the banks may be removed or pruned, and debris from the river will be removed before the dredging. After dredging, a long-term cap will be placed in the river.

Next Steps

The Project will occur in stages starting in late 2024 and continuing into 2026.   It will be conducted in accordance with the Massachusetts Contingency Plan or MCP, which regulates how contaminated sites must be assessed and cleaned up.   In June 2024, a Phase IV Remedy Implementation Plan with drawings and specifications for the Project was submitted to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection or MassDEP, a State agency whose primary responsibility is to safeguard the state’s environment.  A link to the Remedy Implementation Plan, as well as previous MCP filings for this Project, is provided below.. In addition, a Notice of Intent for the upland remediation and temporary cap has been filed with the Haverhill Conservation Commission and with MassDEP. Additional reporting and permits will be required at the local, state, and federal levels; copies of the reports and permits will be provided on this website. You can also go to the MassDEP files directly at: Energy & Environmental Affairs Data Portal

The remediation construction activities are anticipated to occur in phases spanning from late-2024 until mid-2027.

National Grid will coordinate with property owners in this area as well as begin the necessary permitting efforts associated with the Project.

Additional Resources / Public Notices

National Grid anticipates that the Project will be reviewed under the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) as well as local, state and federal permitting agencies. As public hearing and participation sessions are scheduled, information will be posted below.

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Submitted Files Below:

• BWSC126 Miscellaneous Document Transmittal Form- 570 (June 2024)
• Winter Street Rev Phase III-Phase IV Final 6-13-24 Upload 2
• BWSC108 Comp. Res. Action Transmittal Form & Phase I- 518 (June 2024)
• RTN 3-32792 Ph III Upload Status Memo
  RTN 3-32792 Phase III-IV BWSC108 attachment
  Winter Street Rev Phase III-Phase IV Final 6-13-24 Upload 1
• BWSC128 Recording Receipt/Issuance Form- 685 (May 2023)
• 3-0032792-HAVERHILL-ACO-Amend-05-23-2023
• BWSC121 Notif.of Delay Response Action Deadlines Form- 506 (April 2023)
• Winter Street NOD Extension Request 4-4-23 Final
• Winter Street NOD Extension Request 4-4-23 Final
• BWSC107 Tier Classification Transmittal Form- 621 (February 2023)
• BWSC107B Tier Classification Compliance History- 625 (February 2023)
• 2023-02-23 Tier Classification Exctension Winter St Final
  Status Memo BWSC107F1 2-23
  Status Memo BWSC107B-QA4 2-23
• BWSC108 Comp. Res. Action Transmittal Form & Phase I- 518 (July 2022)
• Winter Street Phase III RAP (Final) 7-13-22
• RTN 3-32792 Phase III BWSC108 attachment
• BWSC126 Miscellaneous Document Transmittal Form- 570 (April 2022)
• Ph II CSA Supporting Documentation -2
• BWSC126 Miscellaneous Document Transmittal Form- 570 (April 2022)
• Ph II CSA Supporting Documentation -1
• BWSC108 Comp. Res. Action Transmittal Form & Phase I- 518 (April 2022)
• Phase II CSA_284 Winter Street – Final for upload (4-5-22)
• RTN 3-32792 BWSC108 attachment
• BWSC107 Tier Classification Transmittal Form- 621 (February 2021)
• BWSC107B Tier Classification Compliance History- 625 (February 2021)
• 284 Winter Street – Haverhill TC Extension -Final
• Status Memo BWSC107F1
• Status Memo BWSC107B-QA4
• BWSC128 Recording Receipt/Issuance Form- 685 (October 2020)
• 3-32792-Haverhill-PendingACOLtr-7-24-2020
• BWSC128 Recording Receipt/Issuance Form- 685 (October 2020)
• 3-32792-Haverhill-ACO-10-02-2020
• BWSC102 Release Amendment Form- 541 (March 2020)
•   3-0032792-Haverhill- Deadline Extension
• BWSC128 Recording Receipt/Issuance Form- 685 (November 2019)
• 3-32792-Haverhill-TNOR-11-26-2019
  Deadline Extension
• BWSC107 Tier Classification Transmittal Form- 621 (November 2019)
• BWSC107B Tier Classification Compliance History- 625 (November 2019)
• BWSC107C Tier Classification Transferor Certification- 623 (November 2019)
•  Tier Transfer Statement 11-26-19
• BWSC107B Attachment (3-32792)
• BWSC121 Notif.of Delay Response Action Deadlines Form- 506 (November 2019)
• Haffner MassDEP Notification Letter_Final 11-7-19
• BWSC126 Miscellaneous Document Transmittal Form- 570 (November 2019)
• Haffner LSP Resignation Letter_Final
• BWSC128 Recording Receipt/Issuance Form- 685 (October 2019)
• 3-32792-Haverhill-NON-10-11-2019
• BWSC105 Immediate Response Action Transmittal Form- 604 (March 2016)
•   Haffner IRA Status Report No 4 Final 3-6-17 Signed
• BWSC126 Miscellaneous Document Transmittal Form- 570 (May 2016)
• Haffner Phase I_TC Public Notification Package
• BWSC108 Comp. Res. Action Transmittal Form & Phase I- 518 (April 2016)
• Haffner Phase I ISI Final 4-5-16 Print
• BWSC107 Tier Classification Transmittal Form- 621 (April 2016)
• BWSC107B Tier Classification Compliance History- 625 (April 2016)
• Appendix O – Public Notification Documentation
• Haffner Phase II Conceptual Scope of Work 4-6-16
• Haffner Tier Classification Submittal 4-6-16
• Haffner Phase I ISI Final 4-5-16 Print
• PHASE I INITIAL SITE INVESTIGATION AND TIER CLASSIFICATION (April 2016)
• RELEASE NOTIFICATION (June 2015)
• BWSC128 Recording Receipt/Issuance Form- 685 (April 2015)
• 3-32792-HAVERHILL-NOR-4-10-2015
• BWSC101 Release Log Form- 607 (April 2015)
• BWSC103 Release Notification Form for120 Day Reporting- 671 (March 2015)
• Haffner – Lessard Analytical Data

Community Outreach

National Grid is committed to keeping you informed of construction activities associated with the Project. For more information, please contact Jesse Edmands at 781-906-3987 or email Jesse.Edmands@nationalgrid.com

Local Permitting:

#33-1577 Boston Gas Company for 284 Winter St (Parcel ID: 307-2-1) Proposed site remediation associated with past manufactured gas facility
    Uploaded 09.23.24:     Notice of Intent Application
    Uploaded 10.07.24:     Con Com Presentation
    Uploaded 12.05.24:     Peer Review
    Uploaded 01.16.25:     Peer Review #2     Order of Conditions

See updates from National Grid here: haverhillmgpsite6.wordpress.com