Last Lead Smelting plant closes in Dec!!!!!

[ciphery]

So this is an ammo question, but could fit in the fire arms news/politics section too...

The EPA is closing the last Lead smelting plant this December. The Missouri plant has been melting lead for over 120 years and is now being forced to close its doors.
No wonder I can't find ammo anywhere! There's not enough lead to make the stuff.
This is very unfortunate. The price of 'green ammo' is prohibitively expensive and is about to get even more so if I hazard a guess.
What alternatives do we have?

 

[ciphery]

Guess everyone already knows?

 

[wd113]

China..... would be my guess...

 

[Claybuster]

There are two lead smelters operating in Canada.

http://costs.infomine.com/costdatacenter/smeltingcosts.aspx

 

[Spawn-Inc]

that's what the EPA is for, screw over jobs from the us and add more debt to china as they will be importing from them....

 

[Canuck223]

The reality is if there is a demand, there will be a supply.

 

[Canuck223]

There are two lead smelters operating in Canada.

http://costs.infomine.com/costdatacenter/smeltingcosts.aspx

I believe the one in Belledune NB has closed.

 

[Claybuster]

I believe the one in Belledune NB has closed.

The mine has closed but the smelter is still listed on GlencorXstrata's website. Maybe someone in the area can give us an update.

http://www.glencorexstrata.com/our-business/operations-map/

 

[mwjones]

I work with an engineer that's fresh out of university at Dalhousie, and he worked at the lead foundry for his field portion.

 

[ciphery]

One of the smelters in Canada is set to close according to someone who bought lead from there recently. 2015 is a total ban on lead containing wheel weights in Canada. Lead acid batteries are probably next on the list.
The Missouri plant is the LAST one in the USA.
I'm willing to bet that the expense of transport and the restrictions on transporting toxic metals to/through the USA will make things very difficult, and pricey.

 

[sail32]

I buy my lead from a battery recycling plant in Richmond.

http://www.metalexleadrecycling.com/

 

[6.5x55iswonderful]

I know a shooter in Trail BC that used to work at the smelter, they ship lead by the ton to the big bullet makers in the US. I also know a truck driver that hauls to Chicago and on his way back he hauls batteries to the smelter in Trail. It is still a very active smelter.

 

[varmit9]

came across this article, http://http://allenbwest.com/2013/12/backdoor-gun-control-lead-means-bullets/

 

[AB.boy]

http://sierrabullets.wordpress.com/...he-lead-smelting-plant-affect-sierra-bullets/

 

[wbaad]

Lead is used for many industries and applications aside from ammunition, so I don't see it going away any time soon.

 

[Yukon1911]

I buy my lead from a battery recycling plant in Richmond.

http://www.metalexleadrecycling.com/

What are they selling it for?

 

[MiG25]

They still smelt lead in Trail don't they? Home of the Smoke Eaters.

 

[09outlander]

You guys do know that 99% of the lead in ammunition is recycled lead right.

 

[SandRoad]

I work with an engineer that's fresh out of university at Dalhousie, and he worked at the lead foundry for his field portion.

There is a difference between the raw ore smelters and foundries. There will still be foundries and lead recyclers, but not base metal smelters.

There is a huge difference between melting and smelting.

Smelting will be offshore.

 

[rodregier]

Most of the high-pollution industrial processes are being off-shored.

Primary source of lead for projectiles is from the vehicle battery recycling industry.