Reducing Pollution from Mineral Processing Operations
Unlined runoff ditch at a mineral processing facility
Problem
Mining and mineral processing facilities generate more toxic and hazardous waste than any other industrial sector, costing billions of dollars to address the public health and environmental threats to communities. EPA will reduce the risk of drinking water contamination and work to cleanup mining sites across the nation.
Goal
EPA will take action to minimize or eliminate risks to drinking water and other threats to communities and the environment from illegal or high risk hazardous waste operations at phosphoric acid and other high risk mineral processing facilities.
Fast Fact:
Mining and mineral processing facilities generate more toxic and hazardous waste than any other industrial sector and cleanup at these sites costs taxpayers billions of dollars.
Enforcement Cases
Progress on Enforcement and Compliance Activities
The following maps and charts show EPA's progress in inspecting and addressing high risk mineral processing facilities.
- Chart showing the cumulative number of inspections and addressed mineral processing facilities
- Chart showing EPA's progress toward inspecting and addressing phosphoric acid facilities
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