Release:

The transfer of chemicals to the environment: air, water or land. Releases are subject to regulations and permits.

Release to Air:

Air emissions are categorized as: (1) Stack Air Emissions that are associated with a point source such as a smelter stack, and (2) Fugitive Air Emissions that are diffuse such as smoke, particulate matter or dust generated by activities such as furnace operation, construction, operation of large mining equipment, and wind blown dust from storage piles.

Release to Water:

Water effluents include process water and wastewater related to specific mining and smelter facility operations or stormwater runoff, which may come in contact with a facility's operations.

Release to Land:

The metals contained in unprocessed mined materials such as "waste rock," processed materials such as tailings from milling and by-products from smelting such as slag that are placed on the land at the mine or a smelter site are included in the TRI report as a "release to land." This is so even if the materials are placed in an engineered containment structure. The TRI regulations regard such placement as an actual "release to the land," even though the metal in question does not migrate out into the environment.

Off-site Transfers :

This category includes chemicals or metals transferred off-site for recycling or treatment and disposal in authorized facilities.