Doe Run Peru Reports on La Oroya Environmental Progress Emissions of Lead, Arsenic, Particulate Matter Remain Within Peruvian Standards
Emissions from the main stack of particulate matter, lead and other metals at Doe Run Peru's La Oroya metallurgical complex continue to meet Peruvian air quality standards, the company announced Monday.
La Oroya, Peru (PRWEB) July 2, 2007 -- Emissions from the main stack of particulate matter, lead and other metals at Doe Run Peru's La Oroya metallurgical complex continue to meet Peruvian air quality standards, the company announced Monday.
"We are pleased by our continuing progress with addressing these environmental issues and at the same time are actively working to bring them lower," said Jose Mogrovejo, the company's vice president for environmental affairs.
Emissions of particulate matter have fallen more than 50 percent since 1997, when Doe Run Peru purchased the facility. Main stack emissions through May are as follows:
- Particulate matter dropped from 175 milligrams per normal cubic meter (mg/Nm3) in 1994 to 147 mg/Nm3 in 1997 to 71 mg/Nm3 in 2007 (through May). The maximum permissible limit is 100 mg/Nm3.
- Lead dropped from 43 mg/Nm3 in 1994 to 38 mg/Nm3 in 1997 to 23 mg/Nm3 in 2007 (through May). The maximum permissible limit is 25 mg/Nm3.
- Arsenic dropped from 30 mg/Nm3 in 1994 to 28 mg/Nm3 in 1997 to 13 mg/Nm3 in 2007 (through May). The maximum permissible limit is 25 mg/Nm3.
The progress continues from earlier this year, and is attributed to an aggressive modernization campaign and the execution of several projects to address environmental issues including emissions at the main stack.
Along with its work to address emissions of lead, the primary health concern, the company also continues to work on sulfur dioxide emissions and anticipates notable reductions with the construction of acid plants for the lead and copper circuits, which are expected to be completed in September of 2008 and October of 2009, respectively.
Mogrovejo also noted that the company has given priority to complementary projects including enclosing the buildings at the metallurgical complex in order to control fugitive emissions of heavy metals, especially lead, which were not included under the company's original environmental operating agreement, known by its initials, PAMA. This additional project has required an investment of some $15 million.
So far Doe Run Peru has invested more than $116 million on various environmental improvements. Once the PAMA projects are complete, which is expected in 2009, the company's total investment on environmental issues is expected to reach $254 million, nearly 2.4 times the initial required investment.
The company is also investing some $1 million per year in a joint program with the Peruvian Ministry of Health and the Regional Government of Junín that is designed to lower blood lead levels in the people of La Oroya, particularly the children. The program was developed voluntarily by Doe Run Peru in 2003 and was recently renewed for three more years.
About Doe Run Peru
Doe Run Peru is a mining and metals company operating in Peru's central Andes. The company has run the La Oroya metallurgical complex since 1997 and the Cobriza mine in Huancavelica since 1998, producing high quality refined metals while at the same time working to operate in a socially and environmentally responsible way.
The La Oroya facility last year attained the ISO 14001 environmental standard for the first time in the facility's history. The certification, which is awarded by outside auditors, recognizes the environmental safeguards, procedures and management systems in place at the metallurgical complex, one of the world's only multi-metal processing facilities.
ISO 14001 is an internationally recognized environmental management system standard set by the International Standards Organization that looks at what organizations do to minimize harmful effects on the environment caused by its activities and achieving continual improvement of its environmental performance.
For more information visit: http://www.doerun.com.pe.
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