OSWER/OSRTI

Washington, DC 20460

NATIONAL PRIORITIES LIST (NPL) 

***Proposed Site*** September 2015 

OLD AMERICAN ZINC PLANT Fairmont City, Illinois

St. Clair County

 Site Location:

The Old American Zinc Plant site is a 132-acre former zinc smelting operation located at 2575 Kings Highway, 

Fairmont City, Illinois. 

 Site History:

Primary zinc smelting operations occurred on the 132-acre facility from 1916 to 1953. Limited operations, such as 

roasting ores and sulfuric acid production, were then conducted at the site until American Zinc discontinued all 

operations in 1967. Slag generated during the smelter's operations was deposited on the former facility area in a molten 

state and allowed to cool over time. Vitrified slag was later transported from the former facility area for use as fill and 

surfacing material in the surrounding area. 

 Site Contamination/Contaminants:

Elevated levels of inorganic contaminants, including arsenic, cadmium, lead, zinc and manganese, were found on the 

former facility area, in nearby residential yards and in Rose Creek. Levels of arsenic, lead and zinc in soil and/or 

sediment significantly exceed health-based benchmark concentrations. 

 Potential Impacts on Surrounding Community/Environment: 

Metals in on-site soil and source materials pose potential risk to construction/utility/commercial workers; lead in 

surrounding residential and commercial properties pose potential risk via direct contact. Contaminated soil/sediments 

are present within West Drainage Ditch #1, which is located on the western portions of the property and flows to the 

Old Cahokia Creek wetlands, a wetland/marsh area which is located immediately north of the facility. 

 Response Activities (to date):

In 2002 and 2003, a potentially responsible party (PRP), Blue Tee, Inc., removed residential soils to address the 

elevated levels of lead. 

A group of PRP conducted a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study to assess the extent of contamination and 

potential remedies. In September 2012, the EPA issued a Record of Decision describing the EPA’s selected remedial 

actions for the site. 

 Need for NPL Listing:

The site has been following the Superfund Alternative Approach (SAA) but this approach has achieved limited 

success. Placing the site on the NPL will provide other avenues (i.e., unilateral administrative order) to proceed with 

the Remedial Action. The EPA received a letter of support for placing this site on the NPL from the Illinois 

Environmental Protection Agency. 

[The description of the site (release) is based on information available at the time the site was evaluated with the HRS. The description may 

change as additional information is gathered on the sources and extent of contamination. See 56 FR 5600, February 11, 1991, or subsequent 

FR notices.]

For more information about the hazardous substances identified in this narrative summary, including general information regarding the effects of exposure to 

these substances on human health, please see the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) ToxFAQs. ATSDR ToxFAQs can be found on 

the Internet at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/index.asp or by telephone at 1-888-42-ATSDR or 1-888-422-8737.