The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says dredging of PCB-contaminated sediment from Waukegan Harbor could help get the site removed from a list of Great Lakes toxic hot spots.

Officials said Thursday the EPA hopes to remove about 175,000 cubic yards of sediment. Dredging will begin later this month and last until next summer.

The $48 million project is being carried out under the federal Superfund program as part of the cleanup of the Outboard Marine Corp. site.

The EPA says the company polluted the harbor, which has been on the Superfund list since 1983.

Waukegan's mayor says the future of the Lake Michigan community about 30 miles north of Chicago will be "greatly enhanced" by the cleanup, and he hopes it will attract potential investors.