Updated 1-8-2026
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
The next public meeting will be a technical advisory group (TAG) meeting, which will take place on Tuesday, January 27 at 7:00 p.m. as an online meeting. Please email beverlysitecleanup@jacobs.com if you would like an invitation to the TAG meeting.
The current 150 Sohier Road facility operator has determined that their two existing fuel oil underground storage tanks (USTs) are no longer needed. The tank owners intend to remove the USTs this winter and, to that end, have submitted a removal plan to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP). This plan can be reviewed here.
Because the USTs are located near the Varian cleanup area, the UST removal plan is subject to a 20-day public comment period and, accordingly, a notice of availability is being provided to the PIP distribution list. There is, however, no relation between the UST removal and Varian’s cleanup efforts, nor is there an expectation that the integrity of the USTs has been compromised or that a release from the USTs has occurred.
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 December, with two drill rigs operating in tandem during the fall. Well installation is expected to last through the early Spring. Aboveground treatment equipment installation is also ongoing and expected to continue through the Spring.
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. Following its installation, operation of the SBGR began in April 2025.
Current and upcoming work: Post-treatment sampling events were completed in September and November 2025. The results of these sampling events will be provided in the February 2026 Phase IV Status Report.
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 was outlined in the Modified Phase IV Plan presented at the May 2025 public meeting.
Current and upcoming work: Stage 1 of the bedrock treatment was completed in September 2025. The post-treatment sampling was completed in October and November 2025. Drilling for Stage 2 bedrock treatment was completed in December 2025, with injections scheduled to take place in early January 2026. Sampling results and a summary of treatment activities will be provided in the February 2026 Phase IV Status Report.
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: Investigation and treatment beneath the building will be completed simultaneously. Pressure injections will be used to increase the influence of the treatment. The treatment is expected to begin in late January 2026 once Stage 2 of the downgradient bedrock groundwater treatment has been completed. In preparation for the treatment, new monitoring wells were installed in September 2025 downgradient of Building 5 and sampled in October 2025. The sampling results will be provided in the February 2026 Phase IV Status Report.
Site-Wide Sampling
Site-wide sampling of wells and stream locations was conducted in November 2025. The results will be documented in the February 2026 Phase IV Status Report.
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.