EPA, DEP: May 4 Virtual Meeting Set To Take Comments On Proposed Settlement With American Zinc Recycling On Its Palmerton, Carbon County Facility

On April 16, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Environmental Protection announced they will hold a virtual public meeting May 4 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. to take comments from the public on a proposed settlement with American Zinc Recycling Corp.  

In February, EPA announced the U.S. and DEP had settled a federal-state lawsuit citing violations of air, water and hazardous waste environmental laws at AZR’s facility in Palmerton.  Read more here.

In settlement papers filed on January 19th in federal court in Scranton, Pa., AZR has agreed to carry out an estimated $4.3 million in measures to comply with federal and state environmental laws. 

This settlement is expected to result in an estimated 47 million pounds of reductions of pollution from the AZR facility, including 25 million pounds of electric arc furnace dust over three years. 

AZR also will pay a $3.3 million penalty.  The $3.3 million penalty will be divided equally between the U.S. and Pennsylvania.

The complaint and proposed consent decree were filed by the U.S. Justice Department, on behalf of the EPA and DEP.

The proposed consent decree was subject to a 30-day public comment period, which has since closed.  During the open comment period, EPA received three requests for a public meeting.  

The May 4 virtual meeting is in response to those requests.  The proposed consent decree is available for review online.

Join The Meeting

The meeting will be held via Microsoft Teams Meeting.

Click Here to join the meeting on your computer or mobile app

Or call in (audio only)  +1 484-352-3221,,581309786#   United States, Philadelphia.  Phone Conference ID: 581 309 786#

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Related Article:

-- DEP/U.S. Dept. Of Justice Invite Comments On Proposed American Zinc Consent Decree For Facility In Palmerton, Carbon County

[Posted: April 16, 2021]  PA Environment Digest