Impact of solid- and hazardous-waste regulation on the metal mining industry

This paper is part of an ongoing study of the economic impact of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) on selected segments of the metals mining industry. It focuses on the RCRA, waste management problems and practices in the mining industry, and characteristics of the economic-impact assessment of the RCRA. The Environmental Protection Agency is considering three regulatory options under the RCRA that are pertinent to mining wastes. Whether the EPA chooses to treat mining wastes as hazardous wastes, special wastes, or solid wastes will dramatically affect the costs of compliance. Regardless of the regulatory option which is employed, the RCRA will impose higher costs on mining operations. The process of assessing the economic impacts of the RCRA was described in four broad areas: (1) identification of mines; (2) determination of regulatory options; (3) estimation of compliance costs; and (4) identification and measurement of economic impacts. 7 figures. (SAC)