| Abstract |
The Palmerton Zinc site is composed of two locations in the Borough of Palmerton, Carbon County, Pennsylvania. Smelting operations were conducted in the west plant from 1898 to 1987, and in the east plant from 1911 to present. Primary smelting of concentrated zinc sulfide ores, conducted until December 1980, resulted in the emission of large quantities of zinc, lead, cadmium, and sulfer dioxide. This air pollution caused defoliation of over 2,000 acres of vegetation in the vicinity of the east smelter. Between 1898 and 1987 process residue and other plant wastes were disposed of on Cinder Bank, a 2.5-mile, 2,000-acre waste pile. The selected remedial action for the site includes: slope modification, capping, and application of a vegetative cover on Cinder Bank; construction of surface water diversion channels; surface water and leachate collection and treatment using lime-activated filtration lagoons and/or constructed wetlands; implementation of an inspection, monitoring, and maintenance plan; and wetlands restoration measures, if necessary. |
