EPA Halts Sale of Toxic “Bag o’ Slag” Montana Mining Souvenirs
On November 18, EPA Inspector General Charles Sheehan notified regional environmental agencies of a Montana visitor center selling toxic copper smelting waste in resealable, plastic sandwich bags to tourists.
For several years, the Anaconda Chamber of Commerce has been marketing the mining waste as “bag ‘o slag”, a token from Anaconda’s mining history.
“From Anaconda, the tourist can leave with a token of the smelter—small bags of slag (much easier to obtain than trying to take a sample from one of the slag piles),” the 2019 Anaconda Tourism Guide reads.
What the guide doesn’t say is that the hazardous waste was illegally obtained from the Anaconda Co. Superfund Site, according to EPA investigators.
Although slag is mostly iron and silica left over from separating metal from its ore, it also contains small amounts of lead and arsenic, both of which are Federally regulated hazardous substances.
Federal officials ordered the Chamber of Commerce to pull the $2 bags of hazardous waste from its visitor center and inform past purchasers of the related health risks and how to safely dispose of the bags.
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality was notified and will work with EPA to find out what individuals or business may have been involved in the illegal waste collection and sale of the bags.
Browse RCRA training options here to find the course that fits your needs, your schedule, and your learning style.
Want live training? Join us for the RCRA Hazardous Waste Management Workshop near you in January 2020:
Cleveland, OH Jan. 6—7
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Indianapolis, IN Jan. 27–28
Charleston, SC Jan. 27–28
Detroit, MI Jan. 30–31
Richmond, VA Jan. 30–31
For several years, the Anaconda Chamber of Commerce has been marketing the mining waste as “bag ‘o slag”, a token from Anaconda’s mining history.
“From Anaconda, the tourist can leave with a token of the smelter—small bags of slag (much easier to obtain than trying to take a sample from one of the slag piles),” the 2019 Anaconda Tourism Guide reads.
What the guide doesn’t say is that the hazardous waste was illegally obtained from the Anaconda Co. Superfund Site, according to EPA investigators.
Although slag is mostly iron and silica left over from separating metal from its ore, it also contains small amounts of lead and arsenic, both of which are Federally regulated hazardous substances.
Federal officials ordered the Chamber of Commerce to pull the $2 bags of hazardous waste from its visitor center and inform past purchasers of the related health risks and how to safely dispose of the bags.
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality was notified and will work with EPA to find out what individuals or business may have been involved in the illegal waste collection and sale of the bags.
Get RCRA Trained—When You Want, Where You Want
US EPA requires hazardous waste professionals to complete annual training on the RCRA requirements. Lion makes it easy to meet the RCRA training mandate in a variety of formats—nationwide public workshops, convenient online courses, live webinars, and on-site training.Browse RCRA training options here to find the course that fits your needs, your schedule, and your learning style.
Want live training? Join us for the RCRA Hazardous Waste Management Workshop near you in January 2020:
Cleveland, OH Jan. 6—7
Mobile, AL Jan. 6–7
Cincinnati, OH Jan. 9—10
Memphis, TN Jan. 9–10
Chicago, IL Jan. 13–14
Nashville, TN Jan. 13–14
St. Louis, MO Jan. 16–17
Charlotte, NC Jan. 16–17
Atlanta, GA Jan. 21–22
Indianapolis, IN Jan. 27–28
Charleston, SC Jan. 27–28
Detroit, MI Jan. 30–31
Richmond, VA Jan. 30–31
Tags: arsenic, environmental, EPA, haz waste, hazardous waste, lead, montana, RCRA, slag, Superfund, superfund site, tourism
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