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| EAGLE ZINC CO DIV T L DIAMOND | Hillsboro, Illinois | |
| Montgomery County |
Site Location:
Eagle Zinc Co Div T L Diamond (Eagle Zinc) is located in Hillsboro,
Illinois, approximately 50 miles northeast of St. Louis, Missouri. The
property encompasses approximately 132 acres, of which approximately 26
acres were heavily used when the smelter was operating.
Site History:
Eagle-Picher Lead Company "Hillsboro Plant" began smelting operations in
1923, and it produced zinc, sulfuric acid, zinc oxide, and leaded zinc
oxide. Eagle-Pitcher continued operations at the facility until 1980. In
1980, the property was acquired by Sherwin Williams. Sherwin Williams
owned the property between 1980 until 1984. In 1984, the facility was
acquired by Eagle Zinc Company, a division of T. L. Diamond Company of
New York City. The facility ceased operations in 2003. During the years
of operation, large amounts of slag (a by-product of the smelting
process) were produced and placed in waste piles or spread on the ground
throughout the facility. The facility is currently vacant.
Site Contamination/Contaminants:
A significant amount of the slag within the facility is stored in two
waste piles. One waste pile occupies approximately seven acres and rises
up to 15 feet above grade and is located on the southern portion of the
facility. The second waste pile occupies approximately 10 acres. It has
an average depth of at least one inch and is located on the northwestern
half of the facility. Contaminants of concern associated with the slag
piles are metals, primarily cadmium, lead and zinc. The slag piles are
not contained and continue to contaminate surface water in the area due
to runoff from the facility.
Potential Impacts on Surrounding Community/Environment:
The northwestern slag pile flows into an unnamed waterway which
eventually flows into Lake Hillsboro. Concentrations of several metals
including cadmium, lead and zinc were all elevated in sediments of the
unnamed creek. Lake Hillsboro is a fishery. Also, the unnamed waterway
flows through small sections of forested wetlands and supports small
wildlife.
Response Activities (to date):
In 1984, Sherwin Williams, under the supervision of Illinois EPA,
removed approximately 18,000 tons of residue materials from 10 acres of
the site. In 2001, the Potentially Responsible Parties entered into an
Administrative Order on Consent with U.S. EPA to conduct the Remedial
Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS). The RI/FS is ongoing. As of
August 9, 2000, T. L. Diamond had sold 16,895 tons of fines and reused
4,470 tons of fines. In addition, T. L. Diamond arranged for the
removal from the site of approximately 2,500 tons of waste materials and
approximately 3,800 pounds of barium-containing materials from the prior
owners' operations.
[The description of the site (release) is based on information available at the time the site was evaluated with the HRS. The description may change as additional information is gathered on the sources and extent of contamination. See 56 FR 5600, February 11, 1991, or subsequent FR notices.]
For more information about the hazardous substances identified in this narrative summary, including general information regarding the effects of exposure to these substances on human health, please see the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) ToxFAQs. ATSDR ToxFAQs can be found on the Internet at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaq.html or by telephone at 1-888-42-ATSDR or 1-888-422-8737.