State Secures $125,000 Settlement with Holtec Over Asbestos Violations at Pilgrim Site

PLYMOUTH MA— The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office has finalized a $125,000 consent judgment against Holtec Pilgrim, LLC and Holtec Decommissioning International, LLC. The settlement, approved by the Suffolk Superior Court on June 26, 2026, addresses serious violations of the Massachusetts Clean Air Act and state asbestos regulations during the ongoing decommissioning of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station.

The enforcement action stems from the improper handling of a large concrete vault containing multiple types of asbestos-containing materials. According to the Attorney General’s Office, Holtec failed to adhere to mandatory safety protocols, which state investigators allege created significant health risks for workers and the surrounding environment:

• Failure to Notify: Holtec did not provide the required notification to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) before beginning asbestos abatement work.
• Improper Handling: Rather than following safe containment procedures, the company allegedly dragged asbestos-contaminated debris from the primary excavation site to a secondary location.
• Contamination Exposure: During this process, Holtec reportedly scattered dry, asbestos-containing waste along the transport path and left the material exposed to the elements overnight, increasing the risk of hazardous fibers becoming airborne.

Under the terms of the court-approved agreement, Holtec is held accountable through both financial penalties and ongoing oversight:

• Financial Penalties: The company must pay $125,000 to the Commonwealth.
• Environmental Justice Fund: $37,500 of the settlement will be directed to the Massachusetts Environmental Justice Trust Fund to support projects addressing environmental health burdens in disadvantaged communities.
• Compliance Monitoring: Up to $50,000 of the penalty remains suspended and is contingent upon Holtec’s strict compliance with the Clean Air Act and state asbestos regulations over the next two years.

This settlement was handled by Assistant Attorney General John S. Craig of the Environmental Protection Division. The action is part of Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s “Healthy Buildings, Healthy Air” initiative, a long-term state effort to protect residents and workers from the severe respiratory risks—such as mesothelioma and asbestosis—associated with asbestos exposure.

State officials noted that since the initiation of this enforcement strategy in 2016, the Attorney General’s Office has successfully secured more than $11.9 million in civil penalties related to asbestos violations across Massachusetts. Holtec has since completed the proper abatement of the demolition area in question.