Smc Precious Metals Smelter & Base Metals Refinery – Emissions Trend
Columbus, MT · 2019–2023 · Parent: Stillwater Mining Co
This page assembles 5 consecutive years of EPA Toxics Release Inventory Form R filings for Smc Precious Metals Smelter & Base Metals Refinery, spanning 2019–2023. Each annual total aggregates on-site air emissions, surface-water discharges, land disposal, and off-site transfers reported by the facility under EPCRA Section 313, which requires disclosure whenever a listed chemical is manufactured, processed, or otherwise used above threshold quantities.
Reported releases opened at 746 in 2019 and closed at 480 in 2023 – a decrease of 35.6% over the window. The chart below stacks the four TRI release media (air, water, land, off-site) and overlays the yearly total. The top contributor by cumulative mass is Nickel compounds at 1.1K, followed by Copper And Copper Compounds at 946.
Because TRI figures are estimated, not metered, year-over-year deltas can reflect methodology revisions, ownership changes, or shifts in what a facility classifies as reportable, not only physical emission changes. Treat the trajectory as a disclosure record, and cross-reference with the EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) system for the fuller regulatory picture on this primary metals facility.
Total Releases by Category
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Year | Total | Chemicals | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 746 lbs | 9 | - |
| 2020 | 687 lbs | 9 | -7.9% |
| 2021 | 719 lbs | 9 | +4.6% |
| 2022 | 487 lbs | 9 | -32.3% |
| 2023 | 480 lbs | 9 | -1.4% |
Top Chemicals by Year
| Chemical | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickel compounds | 371 | 336 | 354 | - | - | 1.1K |
| Copper And Copper Compounds | 227 | 202 | 210 | 144 | 163 | 946 |
| Nickel And Nickel Compounds | - | - | - | 292 | 246 | 538 |
| Chromium compounds (except for chromite ore mined in the Transvaal Region) | 44 | 47 | 52 | - | - | 143 |
| Barium compounds (except for barium sulfate (CAS No. 7727-43-7)) | 43 | 47 | 45 | - | - | 135 |
| Zinc compounds | 19 | 18 | 19 | 6 | 7 | 69 |
| Manganese compounds | 19 | 19 | 19 | - | - | 57 |
| Chromium and Chromium Compounds(except for chromite ore mined in the Transvaal Region) | - | - | - | 15 | 35 | 50 |
| Cobalt And Cobalt Compounds | - | - | 17 | 7 | 8 | 32 |
| Cobalt compounds | 17 | 14 | - | - | - | 31 |
| Barium And Barium Compounds | - | - | - | 15 | 13 | 28 |
| Lead And Lead Compounds | 6 | 4 | - | 2 | 1 | 13 |
| Manganese And Manganese Compounds | - | - | - | 6 | 7 | 13 |
| Lead compounds | - | - | 3 | - | - | 3 |
| Mercury And Mercury Compounds | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0 |
About This Data
Trend data is sourced from the EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI). Facilities report annually. Release quantities are self-reported estimates. Year-over-year changes may reflect changes in production, pollution control measures, reporting methodology, or chemical thresholds.
A decrease in reported releases does not necessarily indicate improved environmental performance, as it may reflect production cutbacks, facility closures, or changes in reporting requirements. Similarly, increases may reflect expanded production rather than degraded environmental practices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Smc Precious Metals Smelter & Base Metals Refinery getting cleaner or dirtier? ▼
What time period does this trend data cover? ▼
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.