EPA is currently overseeing the Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (RI/FS) for OU-4, which addresses groundwater, surface water, site-wide ecological risk and institutional controls. After the RI/FS is completed, EPA will issue a proposed cleanup plan for public comment followed by a final Record of Decision.
| City | Palmerton |
|---|---|
| County | Carbon County |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| Coordinates | 40.80833, -75.58334 |
Palmerton Zinc Pile is a federal Superfund site in Pennsylvania. The Superfund program, created by Congress in 1980, addresses sites where hazardous substances have been released or threaten release into the environment. EPA scores potential sites using the Hazard Ranking System; those that score high enough are placed on the National Priorities List.
Current status: Cleanup underway. Active cleanup is underway, meaning EPA has approved a remediation plan and work is in progress. Cleanup timelines vary widely — some sites take decades depending on contamination depth, groundwater involvement, and funding availability.
EPA has identified 7 contaminants of concern at this site, including arsenic, cadmium, copper. Contamination has been detected in other, soil, groundwater, leachate, surface water, sediment.
If you live near this site and have health concerns, your state health department can provide site-specific guidance. EPA maintains a community involvement program for most NPL sites, and site documents — including the Record of Decision, five-year reviews, and public health assessments — are typically available through EPA's Superfund site profile.