The following graph shows the annual quantities of toxic chemicals managed by the metal mining industry.

From 2005 to 2015:

• While metal mining production (as reported in the United States Geological Survey) remained relatively steady, the quantity of waste managed fluctuated.
  • One factor other than production frequently cited by facilities as a contributor to the changes in quantities of waste managed is the composition of the extracted ore and waste rock, which can vary substantially from year to year. In some cases, small changes in the waste’s composition can impact whether chemicals in waste rock qualify for a concentration-based exemption from TRI reporting in one year, but not qualify for the exemption the next year or vice versa.

In 2015:

• 93% of the metal mining sector’s production-related waste managed was disposed of or otherwise released.

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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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