Hegeler Zinc

Overview

Hegeler Zinc is a former zinc smelting facility in Danville, Illinois. The site was listed on the National Priorities List in April 2005 and is divided into four operable units covering the zinc smelter, an unnamed creek, residential properties, and a fourth SEMS area. The site produced zinc, sulfuric acid, and cadmium during its operating years, leaving behind slag piles and widespread contamination in soil, sediment, groundwater, and surface water.

EPA has identified 37 contaminants of concern across the site. Metals make up the largest group and include cadmium, lead, arsenic, zinc, aluminum, antimony, barium, beryllium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, mercury, and vanadium. Pesticides and their breakdown products, including aldrin, dieldrin, DDT compounds, and several forms of chlordane, are also present in the unnamed creek. EPA determined these substances pose unacceptable risks to human health and the environment based on the amounts present, the number of people and ecological resources that could be exposed, and the potential health effects from contact with them.

Cleanup has moved at different speeds across the four operable units. Residential yard remediation began in May 2015 and finished in December 2016. That work involved removing contaminated soil from yards, backfilling with clean soil, and disposing of hazardous material at approved landfills. The smelter and creek units have records of decision outlining cleanup methods that include excavating contaminated soil and sediment, installing a low-permeability cover over the slag pile, rerouting portions of the creek, and monitoring groundwater and surface water. The smelter unit is currently in remedial design, with construction estimated to begin between September and November 2026. The most recent five-year review was completed in September 2025. Physical construction of the full cleanup is not yet complete, and the site is not ready for its anticipated use. EPA assessments show human exposure is currently under control, meaning no unacceptable exposure pathways exist at this time. However, EPA cannot yet determine whether contaminated groundwater migration is stabilized due to insufficient data.

Institutional controls are in place across the site. Zoning restrictions prevent residential and other incompatible land uses that would conflict with the level of cleanup achieved. Heavy metals associated with the slag pile remain on the smelter operable unit, and additional remedial actions are still needed.

Community members can stay involved through public meetings and open houses that EPA holds to share updates on cleanup progress. A Community Involvement Plan was released in April 2025, following interviews with residents in November 2024, and will be updated as cleanup work continues. Written records are available at the Danville Public Library, located at 319 N. Vermilion Street, reachable at 217-477-5228. Questions can also be directed to EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager.