TRI National Analysis

Metal Mining in the 2015 TRI National Analysis

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This map shows the metal mining facilities that reported to Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) in 2015. Click on a facility for details on their TRI reporting.

Metal Mines Reporting to TRI, 2015
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The portion of the metal mining sector covered by TRI reporting requirements includes facilities mining copper, lead, zinc, silver, gold, and several other metals. In 2015, 86 metal mining facilities reported to TRI. They tend to be in Western states where most of the copper, silver, and gold mining occurs; however, zinc and lead mining tend 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 electric and industrial equipment. The extraction and beneficiation of these minerals generate large amounts of waste.

Quick Facts for 2015: Metal Mining

Measure Value
Number of Facilities that Reported to TRI 86
   Number of Facilities with New Source Reduction Activities    6
Production-Related Waste Managed 1,339.7 million lb
   Recycled    71.7 million lb
   Energy Recovery    0.002 million lb
   Treated    25.3 million lb
   Disposed of or Otherwise Released    1,242.6 million lb
Total Disposal or Other Releases 1,243.1 million lb
   On-site    1,236.5 million lb
      Air       2.1 million lb
      Water       1.4 million lb
      Land       1,233.1 million lb
   Off-site    6.5 million lb

Note: Numbers may not sum exactly due to rounding.

This page was published in January 2017 and uses the 2015 TRI National Analysis dataset made public in TRI Explorer in October 2016.

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