Background

The Old American Zinc Plant site is a former zinc smelting facility located at 2575 Kings Highway in Fairmont, Illinois. Zinc smelting operations primarily occurred on the 132-acre facility from 1913 to 1953. Before American Zinc discontinued all operations in 1967, limited activities such as roasting ores and sulfuric acid production were conducted at the site. Slag generated during the smelter's operations was deposited at the former facility in a molten state and allowed to cool over time. This process, known as vitrification, converted the slag into a glassy substance. EPA has anecdotally been informed that the vitrified slag was ...
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