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Boscawen committee hears mid-construction update as Allied Tannery cleanup encounters manhole
Summary
The Boscawen Brownfields Advisory Committee received mid-construction reports July 20 on the Allied Tannery cleanup: crews have mobilized, excavated portions of the site, hauled roughly 240 tons of demolition material, encountered a manhole in excavation area 4 and paused work while the town inspects it. Sanborn Head expects substantial completion by Aug. 12, 2026.
Kellee Jo Easler, chair of the Boscawen Brownfields Advisory Committee, called the July 20 meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. and the committee approved draft minutes from its June 29 meeting by roll call vote.
Town Administrator Katie Phelps relayed a written field update from Green Site Services (GSS) on work at the Allied Tannery site covering July 7–17, 2026. According to the update, early work focused on mobilization, equipment delivery and clearing brush; the following week crews constructed an access road, began excavation, consolidated and stockpiled material and performed foundation stabilization. Phelps said "the town is currently evaluating the feature prior to GSS moving forward" after crews discovered a manhole within excavation area 4 on July 17; GSS paused field work until July 23 to allow the town time to inspect the feature and Public Works will open the manhole for a visual inspection.
Scott Nerney of Sanborn Head & Associates delivered a mid-construction presentation saying the project is two weeks into active work. Nerney reported that GSS established survey control, installed erosion- and sedimentation-control measures, installed a gravel access road, moved and consolidated granite blocks for town removal, and excavated areas 1 and 3 with excavated soils stockpiled pending sampling analysis. He said approximately 240 tons of granite and brick material had been hauled to the town's construction-and-demolition landfill as of the prior week. Nerney estimated another two to three weeks of active field work and an overall completion target of Aug. 12, 2026.
Nerney and the project team described ongoing health and safety precautions: air monitoring performed daily by GSS and Sanborn Head during soil excavation, misting for dust suppression before and during excavation as needed, restricted site access to trained personnel using appropriate personal protective equipment, and typical work hours of 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., five days per week. Nerney said dust levels have been limited so far.
Phelps also reported that a site walk with UCONN TAB occurred on July 2 and the town is awaiting a follow-up update from UCONN on any technical-assistance deliverables. Representatives from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had no new updates; EPA participant Kayin Bankole thanked staff for being included on project emails.
Matt Monahan noted the status of historical-interpretation work; Phelps said she was still awaiting edits and that a Duston Island Task Force is developing interpretation that would incorporate local mills, the railroad, Hannah Duston and indigenous histories, with the Task Force scheduled to meet next on Aug. 10, 2026.
The meeting closed with a motion to adjourn at 5:15 p.m., which passed by roll call. The committee's next meeting is scheduled for Aug. 31, 2026.
