Danvers Creese & Cook Tannery Superfund Site Cleanup Update Planned

DANVERS, MA — The Environmental Protection Agency will host a public update next week on the former Creese & Cook Tanner Superfund site in Danvers as 14 months of excavation work is about to begin.

The site was used for manufacturing and disposal of hazardous substances from about 1903 until early 1981. Three parcels of land at the site were at one time owned by the Creese and Cook Tannery Co., which operated a tannery and finishing facility onsite. The tannery operated on both sides of Crane River until 1981, with Hebb Leather operating a site until both filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1982.

The EPA said waste from tanning operations was disposed of in two landfills on the 55 Clinton Avenue property. Liquid effluent waste from the manufacturing process was discharged to the Crane River until 1975 and later to sewers, while sludge waste was deposited in an on-site lagoon
system.

EPA added the site to the Superfund Program's National Priorities List (NPL) in May 2013.

Approximately 2,600 tons of contaminated soil were excavated from the site with shoreline activities continuing through the summer of 2024.

Later this month, contractors are set to begin work on constructing access roads, a consolidation cell for removed material and a temporary bridge over the river with further excavation work set to begin in April and continue through August 2026.

Area residents are advised to expect noise from the site weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The meeting on March 20 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Riverside Elementary will update the public on the site history, current site status and upcoming construction work.