Powder Mill Woods trail section closed for uranium remediation
Concord has closed a section of the Powder Mill Woods Trail near the NMI site for remediation after elevated uranium levels were found in nearby soil, with tree removal starting Oct. 23 and excavation planned for winter.
The Town of Concord announced Oct. 22 that a section of the Powder Mill Woods Trail near the NMI site is temporarily closed for remediation work involving heavy machinery. The closure follows the discovery of elevated uranium levels in soil samples near the trail.
The town said the EPA has confirmed that current levels do not present an unacceptable health or safety risk to nearby residents or trail users.
According to the announced schedule, tree removal work begins Oct. 23 in a 2,200 square foot work area. During the week of Oct. 27, crews will install a temporary 6 foot tall steel security fence around the zone. Soil excavation and confirmation sampling are planned for winter 2026/2027, followed by backfilling with clean soil and temporary seeding.
The trail will remain closed for the duration of the project to ensure public safety. The steel fencing will be removed once backfilling is complete.
The town pointed residents to the EPA's October 2026 Fact Sheet for more information and site history.
Source: Town of Concord announcement, October 23, 2026.
Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the original announcement.
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