Telegraph file photo An aerial view show the burned-out buildings once at the center of the former Mohawk Tannery's operations. (Telegraph file photo)

NASHUA – The proposed agreement that calls for the EPA and a private developer to split the costs of cleaning up the Mohawk Tannery Superfund site will be the topic of a special Board of Aldermen meeting taking place tonight via Zoom.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. Anyone wishing to view the meeting or participate via Zoom can find the links and information at www.nashuanh.gov.

Representatives of the EPA reached the tentative agreement with Nashua developer Bernie Plante, principal of the firm Blaylock Holdings.

The topic has been open for public comment since February. Plante, city officials and the EPA have been working on an agreement for several years.

The agreement, if approved, would save taxpayers roughly half of the $14 million in cleanup costs originally proposed.

Now, the EPA has agreed to reimburse Blaylock Holdings the $6 million earmarked for a previously-finalized remediation plan.

The former tannery, which borders the Fairmount Heights neighborhood, began operations in the 1920s. Over the decades, until it was closed in the 1980s, the by-products of the leather-tanning operation was found to have contaminated much of the roughly 30 acres that surround its buildings.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.