ASARCO comment on EPA 1994 TRI listing.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 26, 1996--ASARCO Incorporated today commented on its appearance on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 1994 Toxic Release Inventory, which was released today in Washington, D.C.

Asarco said it appears high on the EPA's list along with other nonferrous mining companies because of smelter slag, a waste product resulting from the processing of ore concentrates. The company's total reportable releases rose in 1994 from the prior year primarily due to increases in slag at its Hayden, Arizona, copper smelter. Slag contains encapsulated traces of metals that smelters are unable to recover.

Approximately 90% of the releases attributed to Asarco for the year 1994 are slag. This material, similar in its physical and chemical composition to glass, is produced and stored at the company's smelter sites. Properly handled, slag does not release significant amounts of metals into the environment and does not pose a public health threat.

Asarco pointed out that while its 1994 releases were somewhat greater than 1993, they still were less than releases in 1992.

Under Section 313 of the Community Right to Know provisions of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA), Asarco reports releases of certain chemicals at its seven smelting and refining facilities. The company said that were it not for the EPA requirement to report the amount of metals contained in slag, it would not appear high on the list. For every ton of metal produced, Asarco produces approximately two tons of slag.

Asarco noted that for air and water emissions, it has been participating in the EPA's 33/50 Program that involves industry in voluntary reductions of emissions. Through 1994, the company had reduced non-slag releases of 33/50 chemicals by 55% from the baseline year of 1988. This is well in excess of its originally stated reduction goal of 30% by 1995. Asarco also is participating in EPA's Waste Wi$e program and other pollution prevention efforts to take cost-effective measures to increase recycling and reduce solid waste.

Asarco also has improved and continues to improve the environmental quality of its facilities. In the reporting year of 1994, as a result of new technology installed at its El Paso smelter the prior year, the plant's TRI emissions were reduced by 72% over the baseline year of 1988.

ASARCO Incorporated, headquartered in New York City, is one of the world's leading integrated producers of nonferrous metals, principally copper, lead, zinc, silver and molybdenum. Asarco also produces specialty chemicals and aggregates. Asarco had 1995 sales of $3.2 billion.

CONTACT: ASARCO Incorporated

Donald M. Noyes, Corporate Communications 

212-510-1813