Mid-Atlantic Superfund

EPA Region 3 (Mid-Atlantic)

Pennsylvania
Carbon County
Palmerton

EPA ID# PAD002395887

11th Congressional District

Last Update: January 2008

Other Names

New Jersey Zinc (Gulf & Western)

Current Site Status

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is overseeing the cleanup of the Palmerton Zinc Pile Site, which is being carried out by CBS Operations, formerly Viacom International, the party potentially responsible for the contamination, or PRPs. The site is divided into four separate cleanups, known as operable units.

At Operable Unit #1 the EPA is requiring that the PRPs revegetate about 2,000 acres of Blue Mountain. The vegetation on the mountain was killed by air and soil contamination resulting from the historic smelting operations. So far, Horsehead has revegetated approximately 850 acres, and in October 2000, the EPA approved a Viacom preliminary design to revegetate an additional approximate 1,000 acres. The Viacom design is a different approach utilizing air drop applications of manure, fertilizer and seed to accomplish revegetation. The approval of the preliminary design was based on the outcome of 12 test plots, varying the amounts of grass, seed, fertilizer and manure. Two out of the 12 test plots were initially successful in growing grass, however, after continued montioring through Spring 2002 EPA determined that a second pilot test would be necessary to see if changes in the application process would provided better results. The second pilot test was implemented in Spring/Summer 2003. Those plots (56 total) were be monitored through 2005 and the various amendments have been shown to be successful in establishing vegetation, the remaining full scale revegetation of privately owned land will be done, with some modifications aimed at improving the design, on the formula used in the successful test plots. In April 2006 EPA approved a second preliminary design for revegetation of the non publicly owned land remaining. Work to apply amendments, fertilizer, lime and warm season grasses to over 200 acres via agricultural tractor and spreader and an additional approx. 200 acres via fixed wing crop-duster type aircraft was completed in September 2006. EPA is currently working with PADEP, PA Game Commission and National Park Service along with the responsible party to complete a design for the remaining denuded public land (approx. 1500 acres) along the Appalachian Trial on the top of Blue Mountain. Aerial Application of lime fertilizer and seed is expected to occur in March/April 2008 via fixed wing crop-duster type aircraft on approx. 700 acres of PA game commission and NPS land. A design for the remaining acres is planned for Fall 2008 with road access and temporary AT trail realignment work to also begin in Spring 2009 followed by ground revegetation and additional aerial application work in Spring 2009.

At Operable Unit #2 which is the clean-up of the Cinder Bank, Horsehead built a system to divert surface water around the Cinder Bank, treat contaminated leachate before it is discharged to the nearby Aquaschicola Creek and revegetate all but a portion of the Cinder Bank. This work was completed in the Fall of 2002. Monitoring of the treated discharge and revegetation is ongoing.

At Operable Unit #3, which is the cleanup of residential soils throughout the Borough of Palmerton, and surrounding areas, the EPA on October 9, 2001 issued a final Record of Decision, or final clean up plan for the contaminated residential soils. EPA worked with Viacom to develop plans to begin the soliciation for sampling and actual exterior soil sampling to determine if clean-up were necessary. The first phase of the soliciation and sampling began in the Fall 2002. Approximately 800 properties were sampled before winter conditions set in. Of the properties sampled in Fall 2002 approximately 13% were found to have levels of lead above EPA's clean-up standards. The second phase of solicitation began in June 2003. A total of 2,400 property owners have been contacted for permission to be sampled. Over 1500 properties were sampled. Approximately, 180 properties were eligible for soil cleanup. Soil cleanups were completed in the Fall 2004 with minimal follow-up work on some properties in 2005. Interior Dust sampling began in 2004 on properties where soil cleanup was completed. Initial clean-ups of eligible properties began in late September 2004. A total of 20 interiors which required clean-up were completed by Summer 2005. Work for this Operable Unit is essentially complete.

At Operable Unit #4 which is comprised of Groundwater/Surface Water and Ecological Risks, EPA is currently overseeing finalization of a Remedial Investigation (RI)/Feasibility Study (FS) which will utilize existing ground water data as well collect additional data from soils, surface water and groundwater to try to determine the extent of contamination. EPA's ecological risk assessment which will be incorporated with the remedial investigation. After the RI/FS is completed, EPA will evaluate several possible cleanup plans. After the RI/FS studies and reports are completed, EPA expects to issue a final clean up plan, or Record of Decision sometime in 2009.

Site Description

The Palmerton Zinc Pile Site is the area of a former primary zinc smelting operation. The site encompasses the Bourough of Palmerton and surrounding areas, Blue Mountain, a large smelting residue pile called the Cinder Bank and much of the valley. For nearly 70 years, the New Jersey Zinc Company depositied 33 million tons of slag at the site, creating a cinder bank that extends for 2 ½ miles and measures over 100 feet high and 500 to 1,000 feet wide. The smelting operations emitted huge quantities of heavy metals throughout the valley. As a result, approximately 2,000 acres on Blue Mountain, which is adjacent to the former smelters, have been defoliated, leaving a barren mountain side. Soil on the defoliated area of the mountain has contaminated the rain water flowing across it. The runoff and erosion have carried contaminants into Aquashicola Creek and the Lehigh River. Approximately 850 people live within one mile of the site; the population of the town of Palmerton is approximately 5,000. The Palmerton Water Company has four production wells at the foot of Blue Mountain that supply water to the towns of Palmerton and Aquashicola, these wells have not been effected by contaminants from the site to date.

Site Responsibility

This site is being addressed through Federal and potentially responsible parties' actions.

NPL Listing History

Our country's most serious, uncontrolled, or abandoned hazardous waste sites can be cleaned using federal money. To be eligible for federal cleanup money, a site must be put on the National Priorities List. This site was proposed to the list on December 30, 1982 and formally added to the list on September 8, 1983.

Threats and Contaminants

Dust and soil still contains heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and zinc from former processes in the Borough of Palmerton and surrounding area. Blue Mountain, the Cinder Bank and the shallow groundwater and surface water adjacent to the Site are affected by elevated levels of heavy metals as a result of historic operations. Aquashicola Creek is contaminated with zinc, copper and cadmium from Cinder Bank leachate and surface runoff. People who come in direct contact with or accidentally ingest contaminated ground water or surface water may be at risk. Contaminants have been found in residential soil and may pose an elevated health risk. In past years, children in Palmerton have been found to have elevated levels of lead in their blood. Fish in Aquashicola Creek contain bioaccumulated contaminants, and eating them may pose a health threat. Horses and cattle that graze in the area have shown high concentrations of lead and cadmium, which has caused substantiated cases of illness and fatigue.

Contaminant descriptions and associated risk factors are available on the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry, an arm of the CDC, web site at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/hazdat.html

Cleanup Progress

Blue Mountain, Operable Unit #1

In 1987, the EPA selected an interim remedy to clean up approximately 2,000 acres of Blue Mountain, which included installing a concrete pad with berms to mix sewage sludge and fly ash, spreading lime and potash on the areas to be revegetated, and planting grass seed and tree seed on the area. Horsehead Resource Development, Company/Zinc Corporation of America has conducted plantings/seedings on approximately 775 acres of the mountain. The first phase of construction was begun in 1991. The final phase of the construction (grading/seeding) was completed in 1995. In 1994, reclamation experts with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers evaluated the progress of the remedy and found that while grass had largely been established on Blue Mountain, tree growth from seeds was well below target.

In November 1996, EPA requested that the PRP, Zinc Corporation of America, a division of Horsehead Industries, Inc. extend the remedial approach to establish grass cover on the remaining yet untreated 1,000 denuded acres of mountain. The PRP has refused to perform any work on this portion of Blue Mountain. In December 1999, EPA ordered Viacom and Horsehead to vegetate the additional 1,000 acres. In March 2000, EPA received the Remedial Design Workplan as required by the order from Viacom. In Fall 2000, EPA gave approval of Viacom's preliminary design calling for application of seed, manure, fertilizer, flyash and lime from the air to accomplish revegetation of the Mountain. EPA's approval was contingent on the success of 12 one acre field pilot test plots, utilizing varying mixtures of manure, seed fertilizer, flyash and lime. The field pilot test plot applications were conducted in October, 2000. EPA and representatives of the PRPs, PADEP and DOI conducted site visits in May and again in September 2001 to evaluate the success rates of the pilot test plots. It was determined that preliminarily two of the twelve test plots had been initially successful in establishing vegetative cover. However, due to concerns regarding long term survivability is was decided that further evaluation of the plots through Spring 2002 was warranted. EPA has recently received a report from Viacom detailing the test plot applications, observations and evaluations from the site visits and also suggesting possible resolutions for concerns raised during the evaluation process. After reviewing the report and continued montioring through Spring 2002 EPA determined that a second pilot test would be necessary to see if changes in the application process would provide better results. The second pilot test was implemented in Spring/Summer 2003. Those plots (56 total) will be monitored through 2003 and 2004, and if the vegetation is successfull in establishing vegetation, the remaining revegetation will be done, with some modifications aimed at improving the design, on the formula used in the successful test plots. EPA approved a second preliminary design for revegetation of the non publicly owned land remaining in April 2006. Work to apply amendments, fertilizer, lime and warm season grasses to over 200 acres via agricultural tractor and spreader and an additional approx. 200 acres via fixed wing crop-duster type aircraft was completed in September 2006. EPA is currently working with PADEP, PA Game Commission and National Park Service along with the responsible party to complete a design for the remaining denuded public land (approx. 1500 acres) along the Appalachian Trial on the top of Blue Mountain. Aerial Application of lime fertilizer and seed is expected to occur in March/April 2008 via fixed wing crop-duster type aircraft on approx. 700 acres of PA game commission and NPS land. A design for the remaining acres is planned for Fall 2008 with road access and temporary AT trail realignment work to also begin in Spring 2009 followed by ground revegetation and additional aerial application work in Spring 2009.

Cinder Bank, Operable Unit #2

In 1988, the EPA selected a remedy to clean up the cinder bank, which included revegetating the area and extinguishing the subsurface smoldering fire. Engineering and cost analysis of this selected remedy is under review. Review of this analysis may result in selection of an alternative remedy. Horsehead Resource Development, Co. recently completed several additional studies for the cinder bank. One such plan was to provide a vegetative cover to portions of the Cinder Bank to prevent airborne and precipitation-borne release of contaminants. EPA was able to approve a scaled-down version of the original (94 acre) work plan in August 1995. Zinc Corporation of America has graded approximately 13 acres of the cinder bank in preparation for the experimental application of a sludge/fly ash mitigated vegetative cover, originally slated to begin in spring 1996. However, in 1995, the parent company signed a consent decree with the United States to address violations of hazardous waste, clean water and clean air regulations associated with their ongoing industrial operation. Surface water will be diverted around the cinder bank, contaminated leachate will be treated prior to discharge to Aquaschicola Creek and a vegetative cover was to be placed on the cinder bank under this consent decree. The final plan for this agreement was approved by EPA. The plan was implemented in the Spring 2000. This work was completed in the Fall of 2002. Monitoring of the treated discharge and revegetation is ongoing.

Borough of Palmerton, Operable Unit #3

In May 1994, EPA cleaned the residences with the highest contaminant levels and residents most at risk. Through November 1997, almost 350 homes have been sampled for contamination and 200 residences have been cleaned.

Late in 1994, following the rejection of two PRP-funded risk assessments (1991 and 1994), EPA Region III launched a participatory effort on the risk assessment between EPA, the PRPs and the stakeholders in the Palmerton community. This effort is the first of its kind in the Superfund Program and was completed in September 1997. EPA shared the results of their community-based risk assessment with Palmerton-area stakeholders in February 1998 and issued the risk assessment in final form in May 1998. EPA looked at recommended alternatives to remediate the health risks identified in a feasibility study which was completed in the Spring of 2000. EPA then issued a proposed remedial action plan for comment from the general public in June 2000. After carefully evaluating comments received on the Proposed Remedial Action Plan, EPA issued a final Record of Decision (ROD) on October 9, 2001. The final ROD sets forth the final cleanup plan for residential soils in the Palmerton area. EPA worked with Viacom to develop plans to begin the soliciation for sampling and actual exterior soil sampling to determine if clean-up were necessary. The first phase of the soliciation and sampling began in the Fall 2002. Approximately 800 properties were sampled before winter conditions set in. Of the properties sampled in Fall 2002 approximately 13% were found to have levels of lead above EPA's clean-up standards. The second phase of solicitation began in June 2003. A total of 2,400 property owners have been contacted for permission to be sampled. Over 1500 properties were sampled. Approximately, 180 properties were eligible for soil cleanup. Soil cleanups were completed in the Fall 2004 with minimal follow-up work on some properties in 2005. Interior Dust sampling began in 2004 on properties where soil cleanup was completed. Initial clean-ups of eligible properties began in late September 2004. A total of 20 interiors which required clean-up were completed by Summer 2005. Work for this Operable Unit is essentially complete.

Groundwater and Surface Water, Operable Unit #4

The EPA issued Special Notice and an Administrative Order on Consent to allow the potentially responsible parties to study the type and extent of the contamination in groundwater, site streams and creeks. In 1996, the PRPs refused to perform this work. EPA has since taken over the groundwater and surface water investigation and in the face of some citizens’ apprehension has been working with the community, State agencies, state and local government to communicate the importance and the safety of performing this investigation. In November 1997, EPA began residential well surveys of the surrounding communities to identify existing wells that would be suitable for sampling prior to the commencement of well-drilling. In July 1998 EPA sampled four home wells nearest the Site. The results indicated that the metals analyzed for, cadmium and lead, were not detected above EPA Region III risk based concentrations, or Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs). In December 1998 EPA sampled on-site monitoring wells and compared the results to the existing groundwater data from the same wells collected by the PRPs. The newly collected data had similar concentrations of cadmium, lead and zinc as the historical data. EPA also sampled five wells located at the eastern end of the cinder bank in April, 1999. The results were consistent with concentrations found in the monitoring wells sampled in December. Based on a review of all of the existing and newly collected data, EPA announced at a joint Groundwater Committee and Palmerston Environmental Task Force meeting that deep wells would no longer be necessary at the site. EPA is currently overseeing finalization of a Remedial Investigation (RI)/Feasibility Study (FS) which will utilize existing ground water data as well collect additional data from soils, surface water and groundwater to try to determine the extent of contamination. EPA's ecological risk assessment which will be incorporated with the remedial investigation. After the RI/FS is completed, EPA will evaluate several possible cleanup plans. After the RI/FS studies and reports are completed, EPA expects to issue a final clean up plan, or Record of Decision sometime in 2009.

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