Last Remaining Lead Smelter In The USA Closing After 120 Years

[Great-Kazoo]

He's still waiting for the UAW to make a comeback.

[theGinsue]

Whats all this talk about Endangered Feces?

Uh, Ms. Roseannadanna, it's species. Endangered species, not feces.

It's always something--if it ain't one thing, it's another.

[cstone]

Uh, Ms. Roseannadanna, it's species. Endangered species, not feces.

It's always something--if it ain't one thing, it's another.

Oh...never mind.

[Robb]

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Governm...e-Lead-Smelter

Higher-Ammo-Prices-Anticipated-As-EPA-Regs-Close-Lead Smelter

Because of heightened EPA regulations, Doe Run Company's Herculaneum lead smelter in Herculaneum, Missouri—the last U.S. smelter of its kind—is closing its doors on December 31, 2013.

Once this happens, the lead for traditional ammunition will have to be imported, thus driving up the price for bullets, shotgun shells, etc.

The Herculaneum smelter has been operating in the same location since 1892. And according to the NRA's Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA), "it is the only smelter in the United States which can produce lead bullion from raw lead ore," so once it closes, the only lead smelters left in the nation will be ones that recycle lead from existing items "such as lead acid batteries or spent ammunition components."

Herculaneum's product is the type of lead used to make components for traditional lead ammunition, and once the smelter closes, such lead and/or ammunition components will have to be imported into the U.S. Ammunition prices are expected to rise, reflecting import costs.

In 2008, the EPA "issued new National Ambient Air Quality Standards for lead that were 10 times tighter than the previous standard." Following the release of this standard, the Doe Run Company tried to bring the Herculaneum smelter into compliance but in 2010 realized the cost of compliance was too great. They then reached a "comprehensive settlement" with both the EPA and the state of Missouri, requiring the smelter to close at the end of 2013.

[Kraven251]

This seems like something they could have fought, but hey...they finally went after the ammunition.

[generalmeow]

Why would the prices go higher, as imported ammo is already the same/less expensive than domestic?

[Great-Kazoo]

Why not close this thread and post in the original one already linked ? ? ?

[generalmeow]

Have you ever been at a party talking to a guy, and someone comes up and says "hey, dipshits, they're already having the same conversation over there. Go join their conversation, or stop talking." or "Hey, some guys already had this same conversation here last week. Stop talking."

No, that doesn't happen, because its stupid. I never understood what the big deal is about discussing the same thing in a different place. Maybe this thread will go in an entirely new direction.

[merl]

Have you ever been at a party talking to a guy, and someone comes up and says "hey, dipshits, they're already having the same conversation over there. Go join their conversation, or stop talking." or "Hey, some guys already had this same conversation here last week. Stop talking."

No, that doesn't happen, because its stupid. I never understood what the big deal is about discussing the same thing in a different place. Maybe this thread will go in an entirely new direction.

It will now

There may be a run on ammunition by people that don't realize that lead is recycled (in the US) and imported already. The closing of the plant will have little to no effect on lead prices because it is a global market.

Until the EPA starts slapping import tariffs on lead for fluffy unspecified secondary costs this does not matter.

[Gman]

Have you ever been at a party talking to a guy, and someone comes up and says "hey, dipshits, they're already having the same conversation over there. Go join their conversation, or stop talking." or "Hey, some guys already had this same conversation here last week. Stop talking."

No, that doesn't happen, because its stupid. I never understood what the big deal is about discussing the same thing in a different place. Maybe this thread will go in an entirely new direction.

You're comparing apples and oranges. In the example you just gave, not everyone may be a party to that verbal conversation. Here, every conversation is open and in written form that lives beyond a face-to-face encounter. The text is also searchable.