Assessment of industrial hazardous waste practices in the metal smelting and refining industry. Volume III. ferrous smelting and refining. Final report, May 1974--April 1977

This volume presents the results of studies of the U.S. ferrous smelting and refining industry including iron and steel (SIC 3312), iron and steel foundries (SIC 332), ferroalloys (SIC 3313), and primary metal products not elsewhere classified (SIC 3399). Land-disposed or stored residuals, including slags, dusts, and sludges, have been identified and characterized by physical and chemical properties. State, regional and national estimates have been made of the total quantities of land-disposed or stored residuals and potentially hazardous constituents thereof. Current methods employed by the ferrous metals industry for the disposal or storage of process and pollution control residuals on land are described. Principal methods include lagoon storage of sludges, and open dumping of slags, sludges and dusts. Methods of residual treatment and disposal considered suitable for adequate health and environmental protection have been provided. Finally, the costs incurred by typical plants in each smelting and refining category for current and environmentally sound residual disposal or storage on land have been estimated.