E.P.A. adds Old American Zinc in Fairmont City to Superfund cleanup list

For Immediate Release No. 16-OPA009

E.P.A. adds Old American Zinc in Fairmont City to Superfund cleanup list

CHICAGO (April 6, 2016) - E.P.A. today announced that the Old American Zinc location in Fairmont City, Illinois, has been added to the National Priorities List. The NPL is EPA's 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 smelting facility which operated from 1916 to 1953. Elevated levels of contaminants, including arsenic, cadmium, lead, zinc and manganese, were found at the former plant, in the yards of nearby residences and in Rose Creek. Metals in soil and source materials pose a potential risk to construction workers and surrounding properties.

The Superfund law gives E.P.A. the authority to clean up delivers of hazardous substances and directs the Agency to update the National Priorities List at least once a year. The State of Illinois sent E.P.A. a letter supporting the addition of Old American Zinc location to the NPL.

For information on the Old American Zinc site, contact Sheila Desai, 312-353-4150, [email protected].

Information about suggested and final NPL sites is accessible on EPA's website: https://www.epa.gov/superfund/current-npl-updates-new-proposed-npl-sites-and-new-npl-sites.

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