Technical Resource Document

By Environmental Protection Agency

Book Id: WPLBN0000000496
Format Type: PDF eBook
File Size: 0.8 MB
Reproduction Date: 2007

Title:	Technical Resource Document
Author:	Environmental Protection Agency
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Ecology, Natural resource issues, Environemtal protection
Collections:	Environmental Awareness Library Collection
Historic Publication Date:
Publisher:	United States Environmental Protection Agency


Citation APA MLA Chicago Agency, E. P. (n.d.). Technical Resource Document. Retrieved from http://gutenberg.cc/

Description
Excerpt: This document was prepared by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The mention of company or product names is not to be considered an endorsement by the U.S. Government or the EPA. This Technical Resource Document consists of two sections. The first section is EPA's Profile of the lead-zinc industry; the remaining section is a Site Visit Report from a site visit conducted by EPA. The Profile Section was distributed for review to the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Mines, the Western Governors Association, the Interstate Mining Compact Commission, the American Mining Congress, and Public Interest Groups. Summaries of the comments and EPA's responses are presented as an appendix to the Profile Section. The Site Visit Report Section was reviewed by individual company, state, and Federal representatives who participated in the site visit. Comments and EPA responses are included as Appendices to the specific Site Visit Section. EPA is grateful to all individuals who took the time to review sections of this Technical Resource Document.

Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS Page DISCLAIMER AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i 1.0 MINING INDUSTRY PROFILE: LEAD-ZINC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1 1.1 INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1 1.2 ECONOMIC CHARACTERIZATION OF THE INDUSTRY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2 1.2.1 Lead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2 1.2.2 Zinc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11 1.3 ORE CHARACTERIZATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12 1.4 LEAD-ZINC EXTRACTION AND BENEFICIATION PRACTICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13 1.4.1 Extraction Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13 1.4.2 Beneficiation Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14 1.4.2.1 Milling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14 1.4.2.2 Flotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15 1.4.2.3 Roasting and Sintering of Concentrates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-23 1.5 EXTRACTION AND BENEFICIATION WASTES ASSOCIATED WITH LEAD-ZINC MINES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24 1.5.1 Extraction and Beneficiation Wastes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-25 1.5.1.1 Overburden and Mine Development Rock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-25 1.5.1.2 Mine Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-25 1.5.1.3 Flotation Wastes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-28 1.5.2 Waste Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-28 1.5.2.1 Waste Rock Piles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-28 1.5.2.2 Mine Pits and Underground Workings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-29 1.5.2.3 Tailings Impoundments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-29 1.5.2.4 Leachate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-30 1.6 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-30 1.6.1 Ground Water/Surface Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-30 1.6.2 Soil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-31 1.6.3 Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-31 1.6.4 Damage Cases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-32 1.6.4.1 National Priorities List Sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-32 1.6.4.2 Clean Water Act Section 304(l) Sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-32 1.6.4.3 Other Reported Damage Cases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-33 1.7 CURRENT REGULATORY AND STATUTORY FRAMEWORK . . . . .