Ray
Operations
Asarco's Ray Operations, north of Kearny, Arizona, is reporting TRI data for the third time for the calendar year 2000. Metal mining facilities were included as one of the newly added industries required to report in 1998.
The table below summarizes the TRI data for 1998, 1999 and 2000:
Reporting Categories |
Total Off-Site Transfers |
|||||||
Year |
Stack Air |
Fugitive Air |
Water |
Land |
Total |
Recycled |
Treatment & Disposal |
|
(In Pounds) |
(In Pounds) |
|||||||
| 2000 | 979 |
10,018 | 282 |
155,098,190 |
155,109,469 |
92,582 |
-0- |
|
1999 |
1,310 |
9,632 | 282 |
105,438,420 |
105,449,644 |
110,648 |
3,950 |
|
1998 |
1,008 |
29,368 | 183 |
116,086,206 |
116,116,765 |
263,500 |
-0- |
|
Explanation of Data:
Land:
Approximately 99.7% of the total data reported by the Ray Mine consists of naturally occurring unprocessed rock (known as "waste rock") that is stored near the mine pit and earthen material remaining after ore has been milled (known as "tailings") that is placed in an impoundment at the site. Both these materials contain about one-tenth of 1% of copper. Of the two materials, 84.4% is naturally occurring unprocessed rock. The increase in the amount reported in the land category for 2000 reflects an increase in tonnage of waste rock and tailings with slightly higher grades of copper.
Air:
Stack emissions decrease slightly from 1999 to 2000 due to improved dust control sprays. Fugitive emissions increased by 386 pounds in 2000 due to the addition of Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds (PACs) to the Toxic Release Inventory. PACs at the Ray Mine are produced through the combustion of fuel.
Off-Site Transfers:
There was a decrease of 18,066 lbs in off-site transfers from 1999 to 2000. Off-site transfers at the Ray Mine consist of lead flake transferred for recycling that is produced during the process of electrowinning copper using lead anodes.
