Last primary producer of lead in US closing...

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ezkl2230

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Because of increasingly tight EPA regulations, the last primary lead smelter in the US (which produces lead from natural ore rather than recycled batteries and other lead-containing sources), the Herculaneum, MO, facility is closing its doors in December. While there are still secondary producers of lead operating (lead recyclers), this means that primary sources of lead are all overseas now. In other words, look for prices on lead bullets to increase.

Last Primary Lead Smelter in U.S. to Close Due to EPA Regulations | Texas GOP Vote
 
I'm guessing lead smelting will move to Mexico, NAFTA will kick in, and it may actually become cheaper.. The end result will just be a loss of more American jobs thanks to big government.

This really is just another example of Obama's attempts at an end-run around the Constitution. If he can't outright ban firearms, he'll try to ban certain types. When that fails, he'll try to force background checks and oppressive restrictions. When that fails, he'll try other means, like overwhelming taxation, using Police and government to scare people with middle of the night raids on law abiding citizens, using the EPA to shut down lead smelting, and so on and so forth. He's already used the government to dry up ammunition supplies for civilians and even law enforcement at this point.
 
We'll just increase the amount of lead imported from China in baby food and paint on toys. Seriously, recycling lead will speed up. Another concern is that most storage batteries use lead plate in their manufacture.
 
We'll just increase the amount of lead imported from China in baby food and paint on toys. Seriously, recycling lead will speed up. Another concern is that most storage batteries use lead plate in their manufacture.

yeah and nearly all batteries (lead-acid anyway) are imported from second and third world countries already, like China, India, and Pakistan.
 
Just another "under the radar" attack on shooting. I realize that lead production can produce some serious environmental issues, BUT this comes at a very volatile point as far as how the lead is being used. Bullets and ammo are scarce and becoming more expensive daily and now a domestic lead producer is forced out of business by EPA(anti-gun government harassment) regulations. This smells rotten.
 
I'm going to throw a curve ball here. I have an interesting question. We are all aware of the DHS ordering 1.6 billion rounds. There have been many conspiracy theories on this and I would like to steer clear of them. But if the DHS knew that with the laws of the EPA that this lead ore company was going to shut its doors, could ordering that much ammo be a way to make sure that Federal agents have good reliable lead ammo for a long time rather than worrying about what type of ammo could be coming out on the market in case lead prices start to sky rocket?
 
Its actually cheaper and faster to produce lead from recycling than lead ore and there is plenty of supply. Domestic lead prices have plummeted lately because of the vast supply. There is no problem to be created here except for the terrible loss of those jobs.
 
Its actually cheaper and faster to produce lead from recycling than lead ore and there is plenty of supply. Domestic lead prices have plummeted lately because of the vast supply. There is no problem to be created here except for the terrible loss of those jobs.

I did not know that. Thanks for the info.
 
Just following up on this, yesterday I saw Sierra Bullets newsletter addressing this plant shutdown. They say it will not seriously affect production, because they use about 90% recycled lead now. I hope they know what they are talking about!
 
I'm not convinced it's going to adversely affect ammunition prices. This was not done in the darkness. Producers have known it was coming. If they haven't adjusted to it by now, maybe they shouldn't be in business.
 
I'm not convinced it's going to adversely affect ammunition prices. This was not done in the darkness. Producers have known it was coming. If they haven't adjusted to it by now, maybe they shouldn't be in business.

You contradict yourself. If producers knew what they were doing they would already be using the cheapest source. If they have to shift to a new source it will be more expensive. And any reduction to the supply will increase costs.

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Gov Targets Ammo Supply Lines: Prices to Rise Sharply As America’s Last Lead Supplier Calls It Quits
By Mac Slavo
A couple of years ago we opined that the anti-gun establishment had found a loophole for the Second Amendment and that rather than targeting the banning of all firearms, they would instead turn their attention to ammunition.
The government’s most recent efforts to reduce open market availability through taxation, individual purchase restrictions and a massive stockpiling effort by the Department of Homeland Security has forced ammunition prices to nearly triple, while also dwindling supplies of many popular calibers.
But they’re not done yet.
In fact, they may have finally found a way to circumvent U.S.-based domestic production altogether.
The all-out attack on Americans’ gun rights is now being taken to the next level.
The goal is to regulate all forms of ammunition out of existence, and they’re starting with Doe Run, which is the last of America’s domestic lead processing and manufacturing facilities.
Now, the only ore-to-lead producer in America… the largest in the Western world… has been shut down by EPA regulation.
EPA’s regulatory uncertainty and an estimated $100 million to convert [to non-smelter manufacturing] caused the company to finally throw in the towel.
It’s not just ammunition that’s disappearing. American industry… American jobs…. are being regulated out of existence as well.
Lead’s still going to be manufactured in China, but it’ll be done without any environmental oversight, it’ll be scarce, it’ll be expensive, and we’ll have fragile supply lines.
It’s party of multi-pronged attack on ammunition.
◾Drying up the market by hoarding billions of rounds
◾Shutting down the market with background checks, registration, and banning of online sales
◾Environmental regulation to ban the use and manufacture of lead
And after we can no longer manufacture ammunition domestically we have the UN Arms Trade Treaty to stop the importation of ammunition.
…If you look at the multiple ways they’re trying to remove all ammunition… not just certain guns they believe are dangerous… there’s no question that this is about all-out gun control.
Video:
Doe Run is scheduled to lay off its workforce and close its doors before the end of the year.

With no more lead being processed in America, we are now completely dependent on our largest creditor, China, to supply the necessary base metals for ammunition production.
This will have the immediate effect of further limiting supplies, while also increasing prices, and we can expect this soon after Doe Run’s closure this December.
Furthermore, in April of this year James Rawles of SurvivalBlog.com detailed new importation restrictions set forth in a Presidential Executive Action following the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting, which bans the importation of military surplus items that include magazines, firearms accessories and, of course, foreign ammunition.
Couple this with the implementation of U.N. “authorized” trade restrictions set forth in the new UN Arms Trade Treaty, and you can see where this is headed.
It is not an over-exaggeration to suggest that ammunition supply lines will soon be cut, effectively making it nearly impossible to acquire.
Gov Targets Ammo Supply Lines: Prices to Rise Sharply As America?s Last Lead Supplier Calls It Quits |
 

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