Updated 9-18-2025
This website provides information about the environmental cleanup of the property located at 150 Sohier Road in Beverly, Massachusetts. Investigation and treatment of the site is being conducted in accordance with Massachusetts General Law 21E and the Massachusetts Contingency Plan (310 CMR 40.0000). The site is listed with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) as site number 3-0000485, Varian-Microwave Div., and reports can be found in the MassDEP data portal under “Supporting Documents.”
Varian Begins New Phase of Environmental Cleanup
In the past three years, environmental investigations and cleanup of the former Varian site have progressed rapidly. Prior investigations and treatment have been conducted at the site since the 1990s. These efforts were renewed and enhanced starting in 2021. Since then, the Varian project team has worked with the community and MassDEP to conduct additional investigations of indoor air, surface water and sediment, groundwater, soil, and bedrock. An updated risk assessment has been completed based on the additional data.
The risk assessment concluded that site contaminants pose no “significant risk” for local residents and current workers at the former Varian property, with the existing soil vapor treatment systems operating on the property.
Additional treatment is required under state cleanup laws to prevent potential future risk and to limit the future migration of contaminants. The project team has identified and selected updated treatment alternatives for five areas, prepared detailed implementation plans, and begun installing and operating these systems.
“No Significant Risk” is a regulatory term based on site data. It describes when a contaminant is not present or exists below a level that would cause a defined level of increased risk to human health or the environment.
Figure 1 Site Map and Selected Treatment Areas
Public Outreach
Two reports were submitted to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) on August 22, 2025:
- A Phase IV Status Report (January through June 2025)
- An As Built Construction Report (Potential Source Area [PSL] 10, Excavation and Subgrade Biogeochemical Reactor)
The next Public Involvement Plan (PIP) meeting will take place on October 16, 2025, at the Beverly Middle School. The above reports will be presented along with a remedial construction progress update. As outlined in the PIP, these documents will not undergo a public comment period.
Treatment System Progress
Environmental cleanup is focused on six project areas (figure 1) and summarized below. More information about cleanup progress can be found on our Environmental page.
Building 3 Thermal Treatment
Status: The selected remedy – thermal treatment – was presented in the Phase IV Remedy Implementation Plan (Part 1) and at the June 2023 public meeting. Upon design completion, drilling of thermal wells began in December 2023. In January 2025, exterior drilling was completed, and interior drilling began.
Current and upcoming work: Interior drilling has continued through August and is expected to last several more months.
Stream A Granular Activated Carbon Adsorptive Barrier
Status: The selected remedy – a granular activated carbon adsorptive barrier – was presented in the Phase IV Remedy Implementation Plan (Part 1) and at the June 2023 public meeting. The carbon mats were installed in October 2023.
Current and upcoming work: Field inspections are performed routinely to assess the condition of the mats.
PSL-10 Subgrade Biogeochemical Reactor
Status: The selected remedy – a subgrade biogeochemical reactor (SBGR)– was presented in the Phase IV Remedy Implementation Plan (Part 3) and at the November 2023 public meeting. Upon design completion, SBGR installation began in November 2024 and was completed in April 2025.
Current and upcoming work: The SBGR is now operational. System installation details were provided in the above-referenced As Built Construction Report. The August 2025 Phase IV Status Report included results from the first round of post treatment sampling completed in May 2025. The next sampling event is scheduled in September 2025.
Bedrock In Situ Chemical Reduction
Status: The selected remedy – in situ chemical treatment – was presented in the Phase IV Remedy Implementation Plan (Part 2) and at the November 2023 public meeting. Some minor changes in the remedial injection amendment (in situ chemical reduction or ISCR) were documented in the September 2024 Revised Phase IV Status Report and presented at the September 2024 public meeting. Final selection of the remedial additives for this area were outlined in the Modified Phase IV Plan presented at the May 2025 public meeting. The Basis of Design for Stage 1 of the bedrock treatment was included in the August 2025 Phase IV Status Report.
Current and upcoming work: Installation of monitoring and injection wells for Stage 1 of treatment began in June and was completed in August 2025. Bedrock treatment (Stage 1 bedrock injections) is scheduled to start on September 3, 2025.
Building 5 Bioremediation
Status: The selected remedy – bioremediation – was presented in the Phase IV Remedy Implementation Plan (Part 2) and at the November 2023 public meeting. The Basis of Design for Building 5 treatment was included in the August 2025 Phase IV Status Report.
Current and upcoming work: Varian is planning to conduct investigation and treatment simultaneously. Pressure injection will be used beneath the building to increase the influence of the treatment. This treatment is expected to begin once downgradient bedrock groundwater treatment and monitoring are in place.
Site-Wide Sampling
The August 2025 Phase IV Status Report included an expanded groundwater monitoring plan that will be used to demonstrate VOC concentration reductions after treatment starts in the bedrock area. The first round of post-treatment sampling in the bedrock area will take place in October 2025 with additional rounds following.
The next routine site-wide sampling event will take place in November 2025. The results will be documented in the next Phase IV Status Report (February 2026).
Site History and Overview
The former Varian Facility, located at 150 Sohier Road, is currently owned by another firm and operated as an active manufacturing facility for microwave and radar products.
The 150 Sohier Road property has been used as an industrial facility since the early 1950s. Industrial solvents were released to the environment due to the chemical handling and disposal practices that were common at the time, before more strict environmental regulations were enacted. These solvents, used primarily for surface treatment, cleaning, and degreasing operations, included trichloroethene (TCE), perchloroethene (PCE), and 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA). Releases of these solvents occurred in three main areas: the Building 3 area, the Building 5 area, and an open field known as PSL-10.
TCE, PCE, and TCA are heavier than water and have limited ability to dissolve in water. For that reason, they are often referred to as “dense nonaqueous phase liquids” (DNAPLs). They also tend to evaporate easily and are referred to as volatile organic compounds or VOCs.
Our Commitment
Varian is committed to conducting response actions according to the Massachusetts Contingency Plan, engaging stakeholders, and keeping the community informed of progress.