download the full guide - Lehigh Gap Nature Center

PalmertonSuperfund site47From 1898 to 1980, zinc smelters in Palmerton,Carbon County, operated and gave off air pollutionthat, because of geography and a lack of pollutioncontrol technology at the time, destroyed vegetation onapproximately 3,000 acres surrounding the town, muchof it on the Kittatinny Ridge at Lehigh Gap. In 1983, thesite was designated one of the nations first Superfundsites, making it the target of a U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA) mandated clean up. Toxic heavymetals from the smelting contaminated the top 6-8inches of soil, rendering it sterile.An effort on the west side of the Lehigh River in theearly 1990s resulted in successful establishment ofvegetation on 700 acres, however, that effort requiredextensive road systems that changed the face of themountain, and failed to meet all the requirements setforth by EPA. The re-vegetation process stalled until2003, when the nonprofit Wildlife Information Centerpurchased 750 acres on the west side of the LehighRiver, creating Lehigh Gap Nature Center.Using innovative methods of planting, the NatureCenter, in partnership with EPA and responsible partyViacom International (now CBS Operations), was ableto establish native, warm-season, prairie grasses onits part of the Superfund site. These methods havebeen used on most of the other land in the PalmertonSuperfund area, which is becoming green again for thefirst time in 50 years.To see the restoration project, visit LehighGap Nature Center, page 61, or visit www.lgnc.org.October 2002, Dan KunkleOctober 2008, Dan KunkleWest Plant, Palmerton Zinc Co. circa 1950.Courtesy C. Reinhart, Palmerton Camera Club