Southwest Regional Office
American Zinc and Chemical Site
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.
DEP found Cyprus Amax Minerals Company (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. DEP has secured $1.62 million from Cyprus Amax Minerals Company to address legacy pollution and will use the money to projects to benefit the environment in Washington County. The company will also pay $68,057 to reimburse DEP’s costs to assess and investigate the site.
DEP will accept public comments on the Consent Order and Agreement until 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.
DEP Southwest Regional Office
400 Waterfront Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Business Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
412-442-4000 (24 hours/day)
Regional Director: Eric Gustafson
Counties served: Allegheny County, Beaver County, Cambria County, Fayette County, Greene County, Somerset County, Washington County, Westmoreland County
California
25 Technology Drive
California Technology Park
Coal Center, PA 15423
Phone: 724-769-1100
Fax: 724-769-1102
Ebensburg
286 Industrial Park Road
Ebensburg, PA 15931-4119
Phone: 814-472-1900
Fax: 814-472-1898
New Stanton
131 Broadview Road
New Stanton, PA 15672
Phone: 724-925-5500 or 724-925-5400
Fax: 724-925-5557
In case of an environmental emergency, please call 412-442-4000 (24 hours)