2011 TRI National Analysis Overview Industry Sector Profile Metal Mining


Industry Sector Profile: Metal Mining

MetaO Mining

Puerto Rico

Quick Facts for 2011

Number of TRI Facilities:	87

Facilities Reporting Newly

implemented Source Reduction Activities: 6

On-site and Off-site Disposal

or Other Releases: 1,894.8 million lbs

On-site:

TRI Facilities, 2011: Metal Mining

The portion of the metal mining sector covered
by TRI includes facilities mining for copper,
lead, zinc, silver, gold, and several other
metals. These facilities tend to be in Western
states where most of the copper, silver and
gold mining occurs; however, zinc and lead
mining tends to occur in Missouri, Tennessee,
and Alaska. Metals generated from U.S. mining
operations are used in a wide range of
products, including automobiles and electrical
and industrial equipment. The extraction and
beneficiation of these minerals generate large
amounts of waste.

Air:

Water:

Land:

Underground
Injection:

Off-site:

1,892 million lbs

3.1 million lbs
1.9 million lbs
1,862.4 million lbs

24.6 million lbs

2.8 million lbs

Production-Related Waste Managed:

1,956.1 million lbs

•	Recycled:

•	Energy Recovery:

•	Treated:

•	Disposed of or
Otherwise
Released:

49.0 million lbs
14 lbs
12.9 million lbs

1,894.2 million lbs

Figure 29. Disposal or Other Releases, 2003-2011
Metal Mining

2,000
1,800
1,600
1,400
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
0

Off-site Disposal or Other Releases
On-site Land Disposal or Other Releases
I On-site Underground Injection
I On-site Surface Water Discharges
I On-site Air Releases

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Year

27 Sector Profile: Metal Mining

2011 TRI National Analysis Overview

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The metal mining industry's total disposal or other
releases reflect the high volume of materials
managed on site at metal mines. The vast majority
of its total disposal or other releases are on-site
land disposals and are a result of very small
concentrations of metals naturally present in the
ore body. In 2011, the metal mining sector reported
the largest disposal or other releases representing
46% of the total disposal or other releases for all
industries. It also reported more than three-quarters
(76%) of the on-site land disposal reported for 2011 for all industries.

The metal mining sector had the third largest total production-related waste managed in
2011. As shown in Figure 30, total production-related waste changed little from 2003 to
2009, and then increased by 46% from 2009 to 2011. Mine production, represented by
the black solid line in Figure 30, remained relatively steady from 2003 to 2011. This
suggests that factors other than production, such as changes in the composition of the
ore body and waste rock, have contributed to the recent upward trend. Such factors are
particularly significant in cases where large quantities that qualify for a concentration-
based exemption in one year may become reportable in their entirety the next year due to
very small increases in the concentration of a toxic chemical in waste rock.

Figure 30. Production-Related Waste Managed, 2003-2011

Metal Mining

3,000

2,500

"D 2,000
C
3

O 1,500

l/l

I Recycled
Energy Recovery
Treated

| Disposed of or Otherwise Released Ori- and Off-site
¦ Millions of Metric Tons Mine Production

1.5 O

0 .5 3.

In the metal mining sector, 7% of facilities reported having initiated practices to reduce
their toxic chemical use and waste generation through source reduction activities in 2011.
The most commonly reported source reduction activity for the sector was good operating
practices, such as improved maintenance scheduling.

To learn more about this sector, visit EPA's Minerals/Mining/Processing Compliance
Assistance website atwww.epa.gov/compliance/assistance/sectors/mineralsmining.html.

28 Sector Profile: Metal Mining

2011TRI National Analysis Overview

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