The “Frankenscharnhütte”, later called “Clausthaler Hütte”, was a lead smelter plant built in 1554. For more than 400 years, ores from the nearby mines were heated to extract metals. In the late 1960s, operations were stopped: the buildings and the facilities were dismantled. Originally belonging to several successive princely families, the plant was owned by Preussag AG in 1923. At present, the site is in the perimeter of Harz-Metall GmbH.
After 50 years of inactivity, Harz-Metall GmbH has decided to secure the area and rehabilitate the site with the financial support of the company “Bergbau Goslar GmbH“ and the State of Lower-Saxony. To this end, contaminated soils will be removed and disposed by the company “SANTECH GmbH”, specialized in the revitalization of former industrial brownfield and abandoned sites.
Subsequently, a rehabilitation plan was drawn up according to § 13 BBodSchG. This plan (including a supplement to a smaller area on the north bank of the Zellbach) was established by the district of Goslar. After planning and tendering the technical services, a suitable qualified construction company was chosen. The following work steps are planned:
- Partial stabilization of the southern embankment of the Zellbach (in the north-eastern area of the former site) and the eastern embankment of the Innerste (in the southwest area) by using water blocks to prevent erosion,
- Local excavation of contaminated soils with external disposal,
- Recovery and rearrangement of slags stored on the north bank of the Zellbach (immediately north of the G242),
- Covering central areas with suitable soil (“water household layer”) to reduce the discharge of site-typical pollutants from the soil / filling material with the leachate.
The works started mid-June 2019 and are to be finished by during the fourth quarter of 2019. The inevitable drawbacks on the traffic on the B 242 will be kept as low as possible. The work, including measures for occupational safety and pollution control, is continuously monitored by specialists from SANTECH GmbH. After completion of the rehabilitation, a revegetation of the site is planned.