Congressman Seth Moulton announced that the City of Peabody has been awarded a $4 million federal Brownfields Cleanup Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This significant investment is part of a broader $13 million allocation of EPA Brownfields Grants to communities across Massachusetts.
Brownfields are abandoned, idled, or underused industrial and commercial properties where expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by environmental contamination. Moulton has long advocated for investments in brownfields clean-ups for the North Shore.
The City of Peabody will use the grant funds to clean up the former Bob-Kat Tanning site at 166R Main Street. This 0.7-acre site operated as a tannery beginning in the early 1700s and has remained vacant since 2003. It is contaminated with metals, volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, petroleum constituents, dioxins, and furans. Grant funds also will be used to support community engagement activities.
“If you’ve lived in the area awhile, you know the tannery’s history stretches back to the 1700s. But since closing in 2003, it’s sat unused and contaminated with pollutants that pose risks to both public health and the environment. This new funding will help change that. It will support cleanup efforts and clear the way for future development that benefits everyone. I’m proud to advocate for important funding like this which directly helps North Shore communities.
The city is grateful to receive this EPA grant. It’s a vital tool that will allow us to protect our environment, transform neglected spaces, and create a healthier, more vibrant neighborhood for all our residents,” Mayor Edward A. Bettencourt, Jr said.
The Peabody funding is part of a larger package of $13 million in Brownfields Grants for communities across Massachusetts.
For more on the Brownfields Grants: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/types-brownfields-grant-funding
