St. Louis, MO (PRWEB) April 03, 2014
The Sweetwater Mine and Mill at The Doe Run Company (Doe Run) has attained certification from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for achieving the ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems standard. The certification, a first for Doe Run’s mines and mills, demonstrates the company’s commitment to environmental stewardship and continuous improvement.
Sweetwater Mine and Mill is part of Doe Run’s Southeast Missouri Mining and Milling Division (SEMO) and is known for producing lead, zinc and copper concentrates. ISO 14001 is an internationally recognized global standard for organizations that implement environmental management systems in their operations. By achieving certification, Sweetwater Mine and Mill is recognized by ISO for fully implementing an environmental management system that meets the requirements of ISO 14001 certification, including demonstrating continual improvement in managing environmental programs.
“At Sweetwater Mine and Mill, we audit the environmental management system quarterly to identify ways we can manage our environmental impact,” said Samantha Anderson, environmental analyst at SEMO who oversaw the certification process. “By collecting data through our environmental management system, we have been able to help employees understand the environmental responsibilities associated with their daily jobs.”
In order to achieve certification, a third-party ISO registrar conducted an extensive on-site assessment of Doe Run’s Sweetwater Mine and Mill operations over several days. This included interviews with the site’s leadership team, specific employees and external contractors to assess their awareness of and compliance with ISO 14001 requirements. As a part of the ISO 14001 certification process, Sweetwater Mine and Mill also established specific targets, such as a five percent reduction in hazardous waste and a five percent increase in the recycling of materials by the end of 2014.
ISO 14001 certification is maintained through annual third-party registrar checks, confirming the site’s ongoing use of the environmental management system and validating progress toward the established targets. Doe Run’s Fletcher Mine and Mill will begin the ISO 14001 certification process this fall.
About The Doe Run Company
Based in St. Louis, The Doe Run Company is a privately held natural resources company and a global provider of lead, copper and zinc concentrates. Dedicated to environmentally responsible mineral and metal production, Doe Run operates one of the world’s largest, single-site lead recycling centers, located in Boss, Mo. The Doe Run Company and its subsidiaries deliver products and services necessary to provide power, protection and convenience. Doe Run has operations in Missouri, Washington and Arizona. For more information, visit http://www.doerun.com and sustainability.doerun.com.
###