Palmerton Zinc

June 2000 Fact Sheet

Invitation to Comment on the Proposed Cleanup of the Community Soils, Palmerton, PA

You are invited to comment on the Proposed Plan for the cleanup of the Community Soils, Palmerton Zinc Pile Site, Palmerton, PA. A public meeting is being held at the Palmerton Fire House on June 28, 2000, 7:00 p.m. Come and discuss the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) plan to cleanup the contaminated soils in and around the Borough of Palmerton. We have carefully studied the site and now believe that the following plan is the best way to protect your health and the environment.

Removal of contaminated soils until lead contamination is below the established action levels. Composite sampling will be used to determine achievement of cleanup standards.
Tilling in of either pre-amended soil or agricultural-type amendments, as necessary.
Replacement of excavated soils with clean soil, as necessary.
Restore lawn and other plantings as necessary.
Disposal of excavated soil and vegetation. Materials would be tested for lead to determine whether they could be disposed of at a non-hazardous landfill.
Cleaning of contaminated dust from residential interiors, if exterior soil needs to be addressed, and when indicated through sampling.
Dust control measures during construction.
Confirmation sampling.
Public Education and institutional controls.
Total cost of the preferred alternative is estimated to be $11,121,000.

A brief explanation of the other alternatives that are being considered is on the back. A detailed explanation of all the alternatives considered for the cleanup can be found in copies of the Proposed Plan which are available for review at the Palmerton Public Library or at the USEPA Region 3 Records Center.

Comments on the proposed cleanup are welcome at the public meeting or you may submit them in writing. You have until August 3, 2000 to supply your comments on the plan or on any other material in the Administrative Record File. At the end of the comment period, USEPA, in consultation with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, will review your suggestions and make a final decision about the site cleanup. Your participation is an important part of the decision-making process. We want to hear from you and will pay serious attention to what you have to say.

Submit Written Comments

Public Comment Period: June 5 to August 3, 2000

EPA will accept wriiten comments on the Proposed Plan during the public comment period. You may submit your comments to:

Mr. Charlie Root
USEPA Region 3, 3HS21
1650 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103

Attend the Public Meeting

You are invited to an important meeting sponsored by the EPA to hear about the Proposed Plan for cleaning up the Community Soils in Palmerton, PA. At the meeting you will be able to state your views about the cleanup.

The meeting will be held:
June 28, 2000 at 7:00 p.m.
Palmerton Fire House
855 Princeton Ave.
Palmerton, PA 18071

Location of Administrative Record

Palmerton Public Library
402 Delaware Ave.
Palmerton, PA 18071

USEPA Region 3
Administrative Records Center
1650 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Attn: Anna Butch
215-814-3157

Brief description of other alternatives considered

EPA evaluated a total of six exterior soil clean up alternatives and three interior dust alternatives. The soil alternatives ranged from no action ($0) to total excavation and disposal of all soils above the site specific cleanup standard of 650 ppm of lead ($26,349,000). The interior dust alternatives ranged from no action ($0) to specialized cleaning w/carpet removal ($1,436,000). EPA also evaluated an Alternative submitted by VIACOM International, Inc., which includes a combination of soil amendment, soil removal and revegetation along with a component for analysis for indoor lead-based paint. The estimated cost of the Viacom alternative is $13,656,000.

All the alternatives were evaluated using the following criteria:

overall protection of human health and the environment,
compliance with applicable or relevant and appropriate requirements of federal or state environmental laws,
long term effectiveness and permanence,
reduction of toxicity, mobility or volume,
short term effectiveness,
implementability,
and costs.

EPA’s preferred alternative is believed to provide the best balance of trade-offs among all the alternatives evaluated against the above criteria.

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