Search

EPA Halts Sale of Toxic “Bag o’ Slag” Montana Mining Souvenirs

Posted on 11/27/2019 by Lauren Scott

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. 
 

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

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

The instructor was very knowledgeable and provided pertinent information above and beyond the questions that were asked.

Johnny Barton

Logistics Coordinator

Excellent. I learned more in two days with Lion than at a 5-day program I took with another provider.

Francisco Gallardo

HES Technician

Lion Technology workshops are amazing!! You always learn so much, and the instructors are fantastic.

Dorothy Rurak

Environmental Specialist

I can't say enough how pleased I was with this course! Everything finally makes sense.

Kim Graham

Lab Manager

This was the 1st instructor that has made the topic actually enjoyable and easy to follow and understand. Far better than the "other" training providers our company has attended!

Lori Hardy

Process & Resource Administrator

The course is well thought out and organized in a way that leads to a clearer understanding of the total training.

David Baily

Hazmat Shipping Professional

The instructor was very patient and engaging - willing to answer and help explain subject matter.

Misty Filipp

Material Control Superintendent

Energetic/enthusiastic! Made training enjoyable, understandable and fun!

Amanda Walsh

Hazardous Waste Professional

I was able to present my scenario to the instructor and worked thru the regulations together. In the past, I attended another training firm's classes. Now, I have no intention of leaving Lion!

Diana Joyner

Senior Environmental Engineer

Lion is easily and consistently the best option for compliance training. I've learned new information from every instructor I've had.

Rachel Mathis

EHS Specialist

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

Decrease spill, release, and injury risk and increase savings with these "source reduction" strategies to prevent unused chemicals from becoming regulated as hazardous waste.

Latest Whitepaper

By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.