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End of an Era: Last U.S. Lead Smelter to Close in December
Posted: Fri, 01 Nov 2013 14:46:24
by Taggure
Posted on October 25, 2013
In December, the final primary lead smelter in the United States will close. The lead smelter, located in Herculaneum, Missouri, and owned and operated by the Doe Run Company, has existed in the same location since 1892.
The Herculaneum smelter is currently the only smelter in the United States which can produce lead bullion from raw lead ore that is mined nearby in Missouri's extensive lead deposits, giving the smelter its "primary" designation. The lead bullion produced in Herculaneum is then sold to lead product producers, including ammunition manufactures for use in conventional ammunition components such as projectiles, projectile cores, and primers. Several "secondary" smelters, where lead is recycled from products such as lead acid batteries or spent ammunition components, still operate in the United States.
http://www.nraila.org/news-issues/artic ... ember.aspx
Re: End of an Era: Last U.S. Lead Smelter to Close in December
Posted: Fri, 01 Nov 2013 14:47:15
by Taggure
And we thought that Ammo was in short supply now just wait till next year.
Re: End of an Era: Last U.S. Lead Smelter to Close in December
Posted: Fri, 01 Nov 2013 14:51:11
by allingeneral
Will someone please just go blow up...I mean disband the EPA already?
Note: This post is a parody - I don't actually want someone to blow up the EPA.
Re: End of an Era: Last U.S. Lead Smelter to Close in December
Posted: Fri, 01 Nov 2013 15:02:39
by Taggure
They seem to cause more harm then good if you ask me.
Where is the Tree Bugger smilies?
Re: End of an Era: Last U.S. Lead Smelter to Close in December
Posted: Fri, 01 Nov 2013 16:18:45
by Diggs27
wow.... just another case similar to the coal mines of Virginia and West Virginia as well as the steel mills of western PA. And people wonder why our economy is as screwed up as it is.
Re: End of an Era: Last U.S. Lead Smelter to Close in December
Posted: Fri, 01 Nov 2013 17:51:01
by OakRidgeStars
Time to start scrounging old tire weights from the local auto repair shops again....
Re: End of an Era: Last U.S. Lead Smelter to Close in December
Posted: Fri, 01 Nov 2013 21:58:13
by Palladin
And good men contemplate why the greatest nation can't kep teh boolits on de shelfs...
Re: End of an Era: Last U.S. Lead Smelter to Close in December
Posted: Fri, 01 Nov 2013 22:00:25
by Remek
Is there a foreign source supplying at lower costs?
If not, I have to assume another company will soon show up. If they don't, maybe I should get into the business! Its needed everywhere.
Re: End of an Era: Last U.S. Lead Smelter to Close in December
Posted: Fri, 01 Nov 2013 22:02:58
by Remek
Palladin wrote:And good men contemplate why the greatest nation can't kep teh boolits on de shelfs...
Please enlighten me, where does the term for the bullet come from? i.e., bootlit.
Re: End of an Era: Last U.S. Lead Smelter to Close in December
Posted: Sat, 02 Nov 2013 03:09:37
by FiremanBob
From the old French word "boulette" meaning a small cannonball. First found in English in the 1500s.
Re: End of an Era: Last U.S. Lead Smelter to Close in December
Posted: Sat, 02 Nov 2013 04:15:08
by MarcSpaz
Right now, the US is the third leading lead producer in the world, following behind Australia as #2 and China as #1. China produces 3 time more lead than the US... so I guess they will have plenty of bullets.
I am predicting the price on lead JHP's is going to double or triple in the next 2 years. All copper rounds are going to be the new norm, as well as $30-$40 for a box of 20 solid copper 5.56 / .223 AR rounds.
Re: End of an Era: Last U.S. Lead Smelter to Close in December
Posted: Sat, 02 Nov 2013 08:15:59
by Remek
Thanks FiremanBob!
Thinking about stocking up on lead. Man, thats weird.
Re: End of an Era: Last U.S. Lead Smelter to Close in December
Posted: Sat, 02 Nov 2013 08:40:51
by Kreutz
Remek wrote:If they don't, maybe I should get into the business! Its needed everywhere.
I cannot imagine the regulatory process involved with smelting lead.
I mean yes I get the need for some oversight since lead is toxic, but industrial processes have come a long way since the 1860's.
Re: End of an Era: Last U.S. Lead Smelter to Close in December
Posted: Sat, 02 Nov 2013 19:49:22
by Remek
Re: End of an Era: Last U.S. Lead Smelter to Close in December
Posted: Sat, 02 Nov 2013 21:36:05
by Kreutz
Does this mean tungsten bullets will be more cost effective?
Re: End of an Era: Last U.S. Lead Smelter to Close in December
Posted: Sat, 02 Nov 2013 21:39:50
by MarcSpaz
it a horrifying thought. Don't go after guns or ammo. Go after raw materials so that no one will connect the dots.
Well, plastic, nylon, steel, copper, brass, and lots of other materials can be used to make bullets. They are going to have to work a lot harder than that.
Re: End of an Era: Last U.S. Lead Smelter to Close in December
Posted: Sat, 02 Nov 2013 22:27:56
by Remek
This really is the worst administration in history
[ Post made via Mobile Device ] 
Re: End of an Era: Last U.S. Lead Smelter to Close in December
Posted: Sun, 03 Nov 2013 09:21:52
by GeneFrenkle
Based on chatter from other boards which supposedly included folks from that area, the EPA had been after them for a couple of decades. also, the soil itself supposedly is normally high in Pb, so the cleanup is kinda pointless, if true. the company is also considering reopening somewhere else - different country, different state, or even across the street. Basically a retooling, i guess.
Anyway, it is sad it is closing down.
[ Post made via Mobile Device ]
Re: End of an Era: Last U.S. Lead Smelter to Close in December
Posted: Sun, 03 Nov 2013 09:28:29
by Remek
Fingers crossed. I understood from the article that the epa put the new in in 2009.
[ Post made via Mobile Device ]
Re: End of an Era: Last U.S. Lead Smelter to Close in December
Posted: Tue, 03 Dec 2013 12:41:03
by NovaHunter
There's one opinion at least that closing this smelter won't affect ammo availability or price.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/201 ... t-ammunit/