Peabody Awarded $4M Fed Grant To Clean Up Main Street Contamination Site

PEABODY, MA — Peabody will use a $4 million federal Environmental Protection Agency grant to help clean up the former Bob-Kat Tanning site at 166R Main Street.

The former tannery beginning in the early 1700s and has been vacant since 2003. It is contaminated with metals, volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, petroleum constituents, dioxins, and furans.

Grant funds will also be used to support community engagement activities.

"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," Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt said.

U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Salem) said the grant is part of a $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 said he has long advocated for investments in brownfield clean-ups for the North Shore.

"Since closing in 2003, it's sat unused and contaminated with pollutants that pose risks to both public health and the environment," Moulton said. "This new funding will help change that. It will support cleanup efforts and clear the way for future development that benefits everyone."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)