It’s not every day a long-abandoned, chemically crusted leather tannery gets a shot at redemption—but in Nashua, New Hampshire, that’s exactly what’s happening. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) just announced a major cleanup agreement for the infamous Mohawk Tannery site, a place where 20th-century industry left a 21st-century mess.

The deal, struck with local developer Blaylock Holdings, LLC and Greenfield Environmental Trust Group, is part environmental rescue mission, part real estate reboot. And it’s one of those rare cases where government, private developers, and local officials are actually getting along—for now.

“The Mohawk Tannery cleanup agreement highlights a great example of what we can accomplish through strong public and private partnerships,” said EPA Regional Administrator Mark Sanborn. “This is cooperative federalism in action.”

Translation: We’re not waiting another 40 years to clean up this environmental nightmare.

What’s So Toxic About Tanning?

Let’s rewind. From 1924 to 1984, the Granite State Leathers facility—aka Mohawk Tannery—turned hides into leather, and in the process, dumped a stew of hazardous chemicals into the Nashua River and surrounding lands. Think: chromium, lead, phenol, and some tongue-twisting compounds like 2,4,6-trichlorophenol. Add in a few decades of sludge-filled pits and unlined disposal areas, and you’ve got a bonafide Superfund site.

So how bad was it? Bad enough that the EPA added it to the National Priorities List back in 2000. The site sat dormant, contaminated, and downright depressing—until now.

Under the new agreement, the EPA will contribute up to $9.5 million toward the $31 million cleanup effort. The rest is being footed by Blaylock and its partners, even though they had nothing to do with the original pollution. Why? Because once the cleanup wraps, the developer plans to build 546 residential units on the newly detoxed land—a major win for housing-starved Nashua.

It’s a modern twist on the old “polluter pays” model: in this case, the "redeveloper pays (and gets reimbursed a little)."

And here’s the kicker—the cost-sharing model is expected to save taxpayers over $10 million compared to a full EPA-led cleanup.

Dig, Contain, Repeat...

Over the next 18 to 24 months, crews will excavate tannery waste, landfill debris, and asbestos-laced material. All of it will go into a state-of-the-art containment cell, complete with impermeable caps and vertical barriers to seal the past in place. It’s not just a big hole in the ground—it’s environmental engineering at its most cautious.

But even with the best materials and intentions, environmentalists will be watching closely. Old industries may be gone, but their legacies can still leach into rivers and groundwater if corners get cut.

This isn’t just about turning a toxic eyesore into condos. It’s about how America handles the aging scars of industrial growth—and whether it can do so without repeating the mistakes of the past.

Old industries like leather tanning left behind pollution so deep it literally poisoned the soil. But even shiny new sectors can wreak havoc if regulations are weak and oversight is thin. Cleanup efforts like this one are a reminder that environmental damage isn’t just ancient history—it’s a recurring invoice.

For residents of Nashua, the project offers hope for a cleaner neighborhood, better housing options, and maybe—just maybe—a future where polluters don’t get the last word.

Public comment on the agreement is open through June 11, 2025. The EPA plans to hold an informational meeting after the comment period ends and before any heavy equipment rolls in.