Millions of dollars in federal stimulus money will be invested in a massive cleanup of polluted New Bedford Harbor, home of one of New England’s oldest and largest Superfund sites, federal officials announced today.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson came to the Whaling City to unveil the award of at least $25 million, and perhaps as much as $35 million — the single largest portion of the $600 million in stimulus money designated for cleanups nationwide. Four other New England properties in Mansfield, Lowell, Kingston, N.H. and Strafford, Vt. also received millions in funding.
“Today we are finally back on the road to get our harbor back,’’ boomed Sen. Edward Kennedy via telephone at a press conference that included Jackson, Governor Deval Patrick and U.S. Rep. Barney Frank. Kennedy has been a champion of the harbor and pushed hard for the stimulus funds, designed to help jumpstart the ailing economy, to be sent to New Bedford.