The Northface Project at the former New Jersey Zinc Company West Plant in Palmerton could be completed within the next two years.

Rich Parrish of Impact Environmental, attended a recent borough council meeting to answer questions on the longstanding project that spans a 120-acre parcel at Mauch Chunk Road off Route 248.

Impact is performing the remediation, with parts of the property capped with an earthen protective layer that will allow for the construction of a planned suite of warehouses. The project is in the second of the three remedial phases that will be required in order to safely reuse the site.

According to the company’s website, the major challenges of this project included the decommissioning of many of the plant production modules; importing the appropriate fill necessary to raise the site above the residual contaminants without disrupting residential neighborhoods; monitoring on-site soil and groundwater quality; and, performing the permitting necessary to make sources of fill for the cap readily available.

Councilman Andrew Hollywood asked Parrish if there were any updates on the Route 248 entrance, and if the trucks are being washed when they leave the site, as there seems to be a lot of debris.

Hollywood noted that at the last tour visit, four trucks were overweight.

Councilman Kris Hoffner said the fill permit expires at the end of 2026.

Parrish said there are two fill permits; one for regulated fill, and the other a slag recycling permit.

Parrish said they don’t believe it will be running for two years; however, he said they don’t know what’s coming.

When Hoffner asked if the regulated fill is tested, Parrish said high quality materials get tested.

“We are very adamant to follow those regulations,” Parrish said.

Smell, truck traffic, damaged roads

Former borough resident Jared Cebrosky, who now lives on the outskirts of town, asked about odors coming from the site.

Parrish acknowledged the complaints.

“We’re trying to be mindful of it,” he said. “These materials are regulated fill.”

Members of the public and the Save Carbon County Northface Project Committee questioned whether the project could be completed within two years. Committee member Londa Ritchey noted the permit has been extended several times, while Hollywood said he didn’t see how the timeline was realistic.

Parrish said the company remains confident the work can be finished within that time frame.

Ritchey also asked how noncompliance issues are handled. Parrish said trucks that arrive overweight are placed in a “penalty box” and steps are taken to bring them into compliance. He added DEP can inspect and take samples at any time.

Danielle Jones, who lives on Edgemont Avenue, said residents continue to complain about odors.

“It smells like feces in our town,” Jones said. “It’s awful; it is awful.”

Residents also raised concerns about the material being placed on the site, truck traffic and the project’s seemingly endless timeline. Parrish said discussions with potential developers are underway and noted the western portion of the property has reached its final elevation.

“We’ve come a long way,” he said.

When asked what would happen if DEP denied another permit extension, Parrish said he wasn’t sure. The company is seeking a five-year extension.

Kim Balliet, who lives along Mauch Chunk Road, said the fill hill behind her home continues to grow and that truck traffic has been constant.

Parrish estimated the project is about halfway complete.

Another resident questioned the site’s economic benefit after years of promises. Parrish said the 120-acre property is being marketed for development and that the goal is to prepare it for a future builder.

Councilman TJ Gursky, who lives near the site, echoed concerns about the odor and asked when dredge hauling would end. Parrish said he expects it to conclude by winter.

“The smell, it’s bad,” Gursky said. “As soon as you hit 248 on certain days, it hits you like a ton of bricks.”

Balliet said it was discouraging to hear the project could continue longer than expected and expressed concerns about speeding trucks.

“We live here; it seems like nobody cares,” Balliet said.

Parrish acknowledged traffic issues on Mauch Chunk Road.

“It’s not acceptable,” Balliet replied.

Councilwoman Holly Hausman Sell said she has repeatedly urged DEP to provide greater oversight and that borough officials have raised concerns during every Northface permit review. Residents affected by the odor were encouraged to contact DEP at 570-826-2511.

Hausman Sell noted one truck was found to be severely overweight. Police Chief Tim Kromer said officers have made about a dozen truck stops since the last meeting.

Hoffner said the permit was issued in 2010 and that local officials have repeatedly raised concerns with DEP.

The project has faced opposition for years. In 2021, Palmerton Borough, the Palmerton Area School District and Carbon County rejected a tax-abatement request tied to a proposed warehouse project at the former New Jersey Zinc site. Developers proposed up to 2 million square feet of warehouse space and about 1,500 permanent jobs, though no tenants had committed to the project as of 2025.