NEW BEDFORD The 56,000-square-foot U.S. Environmental Protection Agency facility on Hervey Tichon Avenue, used for about 16 years to clean harbor sediment contaminated with probable carcinogens, now belongs to the New Bedford Port Authority.
Mayor Jon Mitchell, accompanied by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and EPA officials, announced the property transfer Thursday at the newly decontaminated facility, calling it an “auspicious moment” for the port, city and region.
In the coming year, the port authority will extend the property s bulkhead at least 600 feet and use it to help with construction for the North Terminal expansion project.
The building, which has immediate rail access, is currently empty, but Port Director Ed Anthes-Washburn said the city may lease the space for commercial fish processing and freezing, adding some people have already expressed interest.