E.P.A. Suggests Fairmont City, Illinois, location for Superfund National Priorities List

For Immediate Release No. 15-OPA155

CHICAGO (Sept. 28, 2015) - The E.P.A. today suggested adding the Old American Zinc location in Fairmont City, Illinois, to the National Priorities List of Superfund sites. Superfund is the federal plan that investigates and cleans up the most complex uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites in the country.

The Old American Zinc Plant is a 132-acre former zinc smelting facility that operated from 1916 to 1953. Elevated levels of contaminants, including arsenic, cadmium, lead, zinc, and manganese, were found at the location of the former plant, in the yards of nearby residences and in Rose Creek.

EPA's Old American Zinc Plant suggestion will be published in Federal Register on September 30, 2015. E.P.A. will accept public comments for 60 days following publication.

Information about suggested and final NPL sites are accessible on EPA's website: http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/current.htm.

This year marks the 35^th anniversary of the enactment of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, the law establishing the Superfund program. The Superfund law gives E.P.A. the authority to clean up delivers of hazardous substances and directs E.P.A. to update the National Priorities List at least once a year.

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