Superfund Record of Decision (EPA Region 3): Palmerton Zinc Site, Palmerton, Pennsylvania (interim remedial measure), September 1987. Final report
The Palmerton Zinc site is located in Carbon County, Pennsylvania. The New Jersey Zinc Company currently operates two zinc smelters in Palmerton at the base of Blue Mountain. These two smelters are referred to as the east and west plants. Since 1898, the New Jersey Zinc facility has produced zinc and other metals for machinery, pharmaceuticals, pigments and many other products. Primary smelting of concentrated zinc-sulfide ores which was terminated in December 1980, is the main source of pollution. Prior to December 1980, the smelters emitted huge quantities of zinc, lead, cadmium, and sulfer dioxide which led to the defoliation of approximately 2000 acres on Blue Mountain, adjacent to the east smeltor. Vegetation damage first appeared on a 1951 aerial photograph as isolated patches on the steep, north-facing slope of Blue Mountain located immediately south of the east plant. By 1985, vegetation damage progressed over a continuous widespread area leaving barren, eroded land visible. The primary contaminants of concern leading to the defoliation of Blue Mountain include: zinc, lead, cadmium and sulfur dioxide.
- Research Organization:
- Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5548380
- Report Number(s):
- PB-88-126537/XAB; EPA/ROD/R-03-87/036
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions of this document are not fully legible
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Effects of zinc smelter emissions and fire on a chestnut-oak woodland
Effects of zinc and cadmium pollution on forest vegetation
Related Subjects
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
AIR POLLUTION
REMEDIAL ACTION
INDUSTRIAL WASTES
WASTE DISPOSAL
METAL INDUSTRY
SUPERFUND
CADMIUM
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
INORGANIC COMPOUNDS
SITE SURVEYS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
WATER POLLUTION
WOOD
ZINC
CHALCOGENIDES
ELEMENTS
INDUSTRY
LAWS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
METALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION LAWS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR OXIDES
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
520600* - Environment
Aquatic- Regulations - (-1989)
510600 - Environment
Terrestrial- Regulations- (-1989)
500600 - Environment
Atmospheric- Regulations- (-1989)
290300 - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment
Health
& Safety