A leak in an acid tank located within the former New Jersey Zinc East Plant property in Palmerton has been contained.

The Department of Environmental Protection, under the authority of the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act, initiated a prompt response at the site of a sulfuric acid leak at 900 Delaware Ave.The site involves an abandoned 5,000-gallon capacity above-ground carbon steel storage tank that contains concentrated liquid sulfuric acid and sludge.The DEP will conduct a public hearing to discuss the matter at 10 a.m. March 13, at Palmerton Borough Hall, 443 Delaware Ave., Palmerton.The leakColleen Connolly, regional spokesperson for the northeast regional office, said one of DEP's inspectors was on site Oct. 30 taking water samples from the Aquashicola Creek when he discovered the leak.The tank was leaking acid into the diked concrete secondary containment area. The acid was dripping from the bottom of the tank at a plug into the containment area, which, at the time, contained about six inches of a brown liquid with white foam and an acidic odor. The pH was measured with pH paper and color pH indicator strips and found to be zero."It was serious in the fact that we don't know how long this tank was leaking when it was discovered," Connolly said.The primary threats associated with the leaking sulfuric acid are the human health threat via direct contact with the acid and acidic solutions, which could cause burns and tissue damage, and the threats to the plants and animals in the Aquashicola Creek if the acid is released to the surface water and lowers the pH causing injury or mortality.Addition of water to the acid, or many other chemicals, could potentially cause an exothermic reaction that could release fumes and present a health threat to nearby workers.No one was injured in the cleanup, according to DEP.The Aquashicola Creek is about 300 feet from the tank and the closest residence is about 500 feet from the tank across the creek along Little Gap Road.The cleanupThe cleanup and neutralization of the tank and containment area was completed on Dec. 23, according to DEP on the leak.Wastes generated from the cleanup include: acid sludge and contaminated debris stored in 12, 55-gallon drums, and the acid solution stored in eight, 275 gallon totes within secondary containment berms on the property.Off-site shipment of the waste to a Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal Facility was planned for January.The department decided that prompt action was needed to address the leaking concentrated sulfuric acid, and the only practical alternative that would address the problem includes the transfer of the leaking acid and the acid/water solution from the diked secondary containment area into plastic tanks and containers.The response included the cleaning and neutralization of the tank and containment area, and the transportation and disposal of the waste liquids and sludges to hazardous waste management facilities.The acid tank was registered as an above-ground hazardous substance storage tank with the Department by the Zinc Corp. of America, a subsidiary of Horsehead Industries Inc.The sulfuric acid, a 96 percent concentration, was used for the neutralization pH reduction of the wastewater/groundwater treatment plant discharge most recently operated by Horsehead Industries Inc, which declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August 2002, and subsequently shutdown the treatment plant.Connolly added that the cost associated with the work probably won't be known for a few months.The propertyHorsehead Corp. acquired portions of the property in December 2003 from the bankruptcy court, not including the property on which the acid tank is located.Access to the site is through the entrance and the security guard shack of Horsehead Corp., who owns the property directly adjacent to the acid tank.The administrative record is located at the Palmerton Public Library, 402 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, and is available for review during library hours.People may submit written comments until May 1, by sending them to James Kunkle, PADEP Supervisor, at 4530 Bath Pike, Bethlehem, Pa 18017, or by email to

jkunkle@pa.gov.People with a disability who wish to attend the hearing and require auxiliary aid, service, or other accommodation to participate in the proceedings, should call Kunkle at 610-861-2080, or through the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at 1-800-654-5984 to discuss how the department may accommodate their needs.