Paimerton Zinc Superfund Site Information Questions? Contact Us! The Paimerton Zinc Superfund Site is the area of a former primary zinc smelting operation. The Site encompasses the Borough of Paimerton 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 deposited 33 million tons of stony waste at the Site, creating a cin- der bank that extends for 2 XA 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 agriculturally impacted, leaving a barren mountain side Soil on this area of the mountain con- taminated the rain water flowing across it. The runoff and erosion carried contaminants into Aquashicola Creek and the Lehigh River Remedies selected for the Paimerton Zinc Superfund Site included: 1. Re-vegetation 2. Runoff diversion 3. Leachate (when water passes through matter) collection and treatment 4. Remediation (cleanup) of contaminated residential soils and interior house dust 5. institutional Controls (reducing exposure by limiting land use) Charlie Root Remedial Project Manager 215-814-3193 root.charlie@epa.gov Alexander Mandell Community Involvement Coordinator 215-814-5517 mandell.alexander@epa.gov Resources & Local Information Repository EPA Paimerton Zinc Website: http://go.usa.gov/8mak EPA Tree Planting News Release: http://go.usa.gov/8maz Paimerton Zinc 5 Year Review: http://go.usa.gov/8ynW Lehigh Gap Nature Center Website: http://lgnc.org/ Paimerton Library 402 Delaware Avenue Paimerton, PA 18071 Lehigh Gap Nature Center Visitors Welcome Renn Bank "0 x o tŪ Ķ^GENC* 4? CN Cn Q O d 3L "O 2" p* ~U > nO o GO > * o zr co CD 0 2 > F Q_ =C GO O > D Ū s s Ĩa 3 cn CD § ai ^ 2- h° 2 q § S a o Ū CD * o o" D > (Q CD 13 o PALMERTON ZINC SUPERFUND SITE Com.muvdtij update Jum 201-f ------- 2013 Prescribed Fire test Why was there a Prescribed Fire test? In the past, there have been several fires on the Palmerton Zinc Superfund Site due to natural causes and arson. In an effort to better understand the potential effects to human health and the environment from metals in the burning smoke and to test fire as a way to eliminate invasive species, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) oversaw a con- trolled burn, also known as a prescribed fire in 2013. Other prescribed fire partici- pants included: USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station Climate, Fire, and Carbon Cycle Sciences Program Lehigh Gap Nature Center CBS Corporation Cornell University Silvix, LLC PA DCNR Forestry Penn Forest Fire Control Station Local Volunteer Fire Departments from East Penn Township, Bowmanstown, and Palmerton, PA. To preserve prairie grass areas The warm season grasses of the Palmerton Zinc Superfund Site are a rare ecosystem To reduce invasive species Live Gray Birch (naturally collects zinc and other metals but could re-contaminate surface soils once their leaves fall off and onto the groundj Ķ Butterfly Bush (an invasive species which tends to thrive well in areas outside of their native habitat and crowds out native species) Understanding of the emergency workers and nearby residents risk dur- ing uncontrolled fire. EPA officials met with various local, state, and federal first responders to discuss the results of the prescribed fire test in the Spring of 2014 Results of the 2013 Prescribed Fire test Eliminated virtually all of the invasive butterfly bush Invasive Birches reduced after burn Vigorous re-growth of the grasses at greater densities and height than be- fore the burn EPA coordinated with emergency workers on a health and safety plan, including personal protective equip- ment, in case of a fire on the Palmerton Zinc Superfund Site The above image was taken in April 2013, immediately following the Prescribed Fire test. The above image was taken in July 2013, showing the results of the Prescribed Fire test. Reducing climate change with the American Chestnut tree The American Chestnut can absorb a lot of carbon dioxide, storing it in its hardwood for decades. This helps mit- igate greenhouse gases! The American Chestnut was a very im- portant ecological tree in America. It was essential for wildlife, food, and the U.S. economy. In 1900 a blight-causing fungus nearly killed all American Chestnuts. By 1950 roughly four billion mature trees from Maine to Georgia were virtually wiped out. Now, with vast scientific research and breeding, blight-resistant American Chestnut trees are making a comeback. To date, more than 13,000 trees have been planted at the Palmerton Zinc Superfund Site. More than 4,000 of those trees are American Chestnuts. These American Chestnuts are playing a crucial role in the reforestation of the Palmerton Zinc Superfund Site. ------- |