DEP Secures $1.62 Million Payment For American Zinc & Chemical Site Natural Resource Damage In Washington County; Invites Comments On Settlement

On October 16, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it has secured $1.62 million from Cyprus Amax Minerals Company for natural resource damage due to pollution at the American Zinc and Chemical Site in Washington County and will use the money for projects to benefit the environment in the County. 

DEP will be accepting public input on the proposed consent order and agreement for 60 days, according to a notice published in the October 12 PA Bulletin [PA Bulletin, page 6522] and to further develop the project guidelines.

“DEP is using the tools in our toolbox to make a real difference in the lives of Pennsylvanians,” said DEP Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley. “We cannot prevent the pollution of the past, but we can hold companies accountable and ensure that we create strong, vibrant communities today.”

Beginning in 1913 through the late 1940s, American Zinc and Chemical Company owned and operated a 157-acre site in Smith Township, Washington County, which included a zinc smelter, acid plant, and residue mill. 

The company deep-mined coal onsite to supply the smelter operations and also disposed of various wastes onsite, which resulted in significant contamination of the soil, groundwater, wetlands, and Burgetts Fork, which borders the site and ultimately flows to the Ohio River. 

An environmental investigation conducted at the site estimated that the total volume of waste exceeded 349,000 cubic yards. 

DEP found Cyprus to be a corporate successor responsible for the contamination and release of hazardous substances. 

Since 2009, DEP’s enforcement actions have led to successive settlements with Cyprus resulting in a phased cleanup of the site. 

Significant remediation has already been completed, and cleanup of the site is currently entering its final phase. 

In addition to the $1.62 million, the company will also pay $68,057 to reimburse DEP’s costs to assess and investigate the site. Cleanup of the site is currently entering its final phase. 

The money DEP collects will be directed to projects to benefit the impacted community near the site. 

Before making a decision on what projects will be funded, DEP will provide opportunities for the public to give feedback on what types of projects they’d like to see funded – whether that’s investments to clean up or preserve natural resources like streams and woodlands or investments in greenspaces.

DEP will receive comments related to the consent order and agreement through Tuesday, December 11, 2024.

 Comments may be submitted, in writing, to Paul Vogel, Manager, Hazardous Sites Cleanup, PA Department of Environmental Protection, 400 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 or by emailing the Department at RA-EPSW-HSCA@pa.gov.  

Click Here for a copy of the proposed agreement. 

Click Here for DEP’s complete announcement.

For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website, Report Emergencies, Submit Environmental Complaints; Click Here to sign up for DEP’s newsletter; sign up for DEP’s eNotice; visit DEP’s Blog,  Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEP’s YouTube Channel.

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[Posted: October 16, 2024]  PA Environment Digest