I'll say everything everyone has said is completely valid. But something I like to do at times, similar to what some have suggested, is to look for old major roadways. Before the highways and expressways, the masses travelled on either rail, which is good, or by car on different routes. Following these routes that are now bypassed is a great way to see businesses that have dried up, hotels that have closed, restaurants gone dark, you name it. Especially in the northeast in the hour or two range of NYC. You find something that was bypassed, you'll likely find an abandonment.

I just cruise around, try to never take the same roads twice if I can help it, and look for the obvious signs of abandonment. Sometimes I scout a place a few times looking for signs of life-or not.

Coal Burning Power Plants.

Something I've recently become interested in is the closure of coal power plants. These are a dying breed, due to new EPA standards that a large portion of these companies cannot adhere to without switching to natural gas or going bankrupt. It's almost guaranteed that you'll find several coal operations/plants that are recently shuttered or scheduled to be shuttered in the near future within your state lines (in the US at least - I'm not sure about other countries). One thing that I am sure of, is that coal energy is becoming a thing of the past, making it a thing of interest to people like us.

Posted by 13thmurder Aren't superfund sites so badly contaminated that they're a huge health hazard to people just living in the general area? That sounds like a great way to become patient zero in the zombie apocalypse. I want to be killing zombies, not being one.

Depends what they're contaminated with and the extent. Usually it's in the report by the DNR or EPA or other governing body.

Love canal? Yeah, you probably would not want to go near there... You'd probably fall into and drown in biphenyl quick sand... But local mills/tanneries/chemical factories? Those are probably as dangerous as any other abandoned building you'd find normally.

You're most likely to find places that are on the registry due to lead paint, asbestos, heavy metals in the soil, Petrol/Solvents/VOC's in the soil, Polychlorinated Biphenyls in the soil. As long as you don't snort the insulation/eat the soil/drink ground water you'll be fine.

That being said, I have found places with some nasty chemicals... Chromium salts, drums full of PCB, chlorinated solvents... Again, just do your research. Not all buildings on the EPA's registry are toxic waste dumps, most are pretty clean due to laws and regulations. It's not hard to deal with the drums, it's hard to deal with the soil and sediment.

Posted by Piecat Depends what they're contaminated with and the extent. Usually it's in the report by the DNR or EPA or other governing body. Love canal? Yeah, you probably would not want to go near there... You'd probably fall into and drown in biphenyl quick sand... But local mills/tanneries/chemical factories? Those are probably as dangerous as any other abandoned building you'd find normally. You're most likely to find places that are on the registry due to lead paint, asbestos, heavy metals in the soil, Petrol/Solvents/VOC's in the soil, Polychlorinated Biphenyls in the soil. As long as you don't snort the insulation/eat the soil/drink ground water you'll be fine. That being said, I have found places with some nasty chemicals... Chromium salts, drums full of PCB, chlorinated solvents... Again, just do your research. Not all buildings on the EPA's registry are toxic waste dumps, most are pretty clean due to laws and regulations. It's not hard to deal with the drums, it's hard to deal with the soil and sediment.

And don't forget, many states have harsher penalties if you are caught in a Superfund site!

Posted by Dee Ashley And don't forget, many states have harsher penalties if you are caught in a Superfund site!

I've never heard of that before, but I wouldn't be surprised.

And just because it's on the DNR's registry doesn't mean it's a superfund. Superfund status just means it is eligible for federal funds.

Posted by Piecat I've never heard of that before, but I wouldn't be surprised. And just because it's on the DNR's registry doesn't mean it's a superfund. Superfund status just means it is eligible for federal funds.

I should have said "some" states, since I don't know which ones, except for my State, which specifically mentions superfund sites and ups the charge from a B to an A misdemeanor in most cases (Texas).

Posted by Dee Ashley Coal Burning Power Plants. Something I've recently become interested in is the closure of coal power plants. These are a dying breed, due to new EPA standards that a large portion of these companies cannot adhere to without switching to natural gas or going bankrupt. It's almost guaranteed that you'll find several coal operations/plants that are recently shuttered or scheduled to be shuttered in the near future within your state lines (in the US at least - I'm not sure about other countries). One thing that I am sure of, is that coal energy is becoming a thing of the past, making it a thing of interest to people like us.

I just found out that two of these plants are recently closed near me. Since we seem to be running out of good locations in the area, we have either been there or they are sealed up real good, I searched google for local plant closings. Lo and behold I found two very recently shuttered coal burning plants. Plus three other food plants and a steel plant that is scheduled to close by years end.

Posted by Dee Ashley Coal Burning Power Plants. Something I've recently become interested in is the closure of coal power plants. These are a dying breed, due to new EPA standards that a large portion of these companies cannot adhere to without switching to natural gas or going bankrupt. It's almost guaranteed that you'll find several coal operations/plants that are recently shuttered or scheduled to be shuttered in the near future within your state lines (in the US at least - I'm not sure about other countries). One thing that I am sure of, is that coal energy is becoming a thing of the past, making it a thing of interest to people like us.

Bare in mind that by many of these 'abandoned' power plants have active substations.
These are 911 hot spots.
Exercise caution least your friendly neighborhood FBI pay you a visit...
Be vigilant for the presence of any fixed cams in line of sight as they may be part of a smart cam network. Keep a sharp eye out for these in major port cities or near petro chemical plants!
This doesn't seem to happen often but it can.

Posted by heinrick http://themetaq.co...ania-allentown.jpg

Great resource! I've found many things and learned much history with the help of Sanborn Maps.

If it's closed power plants you're after, here's a great resource.

http://www.sourcew...er_Plant.2C_Unit_2