The remediation of the former New Jersey Zinc west plant in Palmerton has cleared its latest hurdle.
The state Department of Environmental Protection on Monday granted approval to Phase III Environmental of Lehighton for the beneficial use, controlled placement and monitoring of regulated fill at the 120-acre site along Route 248.
"The company addressed concerns the department detailed during our review of their application, including compliance with our regulated fill management policies and procedures for identifying sources of the fill material and ensuring it meets our criteria," said DEP Northeast Regional Director Michael Bedrin in a press release.
Contacted this morning, Mark Carmon, community relations coordinator, Department of Environmental Protection Northeast Regional Office, confirmed that the permit was granted.
"They were requesting a waiver for some of the levels of fill," Carmon said. "They agreed to meet all of our criteria for metals and for everything else contained in that general permit."
Contacted this morning, George Petrole, chief operating officer for Northface Development, LLC, Lehighton, declined to comment.
Together, Phase III Environmental and Northface Development plan to develop 27 parcels for office and other business space on the land and create thousands of high tech jobs.
Under state General Permit WMG