The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) this week announced that it has secured $1.62 million from Cyprus Amax Minerals Company (Cyprus) to address legacy pollution in Washington County.
The money has been earmarked for environmental projects in Washington County, and DEP is now accepting public input to further develop the project guidelines.
Little background for ya: From 1913 through the late 1940s, American Zinc and Chemical Company owned and operated a 157-acre site in Smith Township that 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 toward projects that 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.
A copy of the agreement can be found on DEP’s website.
Wanna weigh in? DEP is accepting public comments related to the consent order and agreement through Dec. 11. Written comments may be submitted to:
Paul Vogel, Manager, Hazardous Sites Cleanup
PA Department of Environmental Protection
400 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Comments may also be emailed to RA-EPSW-HSCA@pa.gov.