Event

For over 80 years two primary zinc smelters operated in the town of Palmerton, PA, making it the zinc capital of the world at the height of production.  However, by 1980 three thousand acres of nearby Blue Mountain, which was once hardwood forest, was completely barren and devoid of life.  In 1983, the area became the Palmerton Zinc Superfund Site.  

This presentation will describe how in a span of just ten years a portion of the Site went from a barren “moonscape” to a thriving native habitat and an environmental education and nature center where students from pre-schoolers to graduate students learn about ecology, environmental restoration and our industrial legacy.  A recent prescribed fire test area will be highlighted to illustrate the ongoing challenges relating to land management and potential unique exposure pathways as a result of the successful revegetation of Blue Mountain.

Pizza will be served.

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Charlie Root, Remedial Project Manager, EPA Region 3, Office of Superfund Site Remediation.  Began my career at EPA in the summer of 1988, as a Summer Co-Op student in the RCRA program.  Returned to EPA full-time in May, 1990, in the position of Superfund cost recovery investigator.  In 1994 became Superfund Remedial Project Manager (RPM).  Have been the RPM for the Palmerton Zinc Superfund Site since March 1998.  

Serve as an instructor and course developer in the EPA HQs CERCLA Education Center providing training to EPA RPMs across the country.  Currently, one of five co-chairs of the National Association of Remedial Project Managers, representing EPA RPM interests and providing collaboration opportunities and timely training by RPMs for RPMs through planning and coordination of a national RPM training program.  Earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics and a Mathematics minor from Millersville University in 1989.