FAQs
General
What does Zinc Resources do?
Zinc Resources’ Victoria County facility would recycle dust captured during the steel recycling process and produce two end products – Waelz Zinc Oxide (WZO) and Waelz Iron Product (WIP).
The dust generated by electric arc furnaces during the steel production process can be economically recycled to create what is called “Waelz Zinc Oxide,” or WZO, which can be used as an alternative to virgin zinc ores that come from mines. Use of WZO in the production of zinc products benefits the environment by reducing the development of mining and virgin materials thus saving those resources. Zinc Resources would sell WZO to zinc smelters, which produce pure zinc that can be used by the steel industry or other end-users for important everyday products.
The second product, Waelz Iron Product (WIP) is used to make cement harder or in road construction.
Environmental Questions
What contaminants will be emitted?
The high efficiency filter system includes a stack for the emission of the filtered air. Other emissions sources at the site will include baghouses, vents, the conveyors, emergency generator, and a diesel tank. All will meet or exceed TCEQ permit requirements.
The TCEQ permit would authorize us to emit small amounts of carbon monoxide; hazardous air pollutants; nitrogen oxides; organic compounds; particulate matter including particulate matter with diameters of 10 microns or less or less than 2.5 microns or less; lead; and sulfur dioxide. The permit will prescribe strict limits on those emissions.
How is the permit evaluated?
TCEQ performs a comprehensive protectiveness review of the permit application to ensure the permit protects public health and the environment. When Zinc Resources applied for the permit from TCEQ, they documented anticipated maximum emissions levels. Also submitted were very technically advanced air modeling that quantifies potential impacts to air quality, and documents to demonstrate that Zinc Resources is using the Best Available Control Technology for our industry. If TCEQ determines that any proposed activity or emissions could endanger the public or the environment, they will not issue the permit. No permit can be issued by the state that cannot demonstrate it meets all appropriate state and federal standards. Once the permit is finally issued, Zinc Resources will be required to abide by all of its provisions. Failure to do so can result in serious penalties and/or enforcement.
Does the permit cover monitoring of the abatement devices?
The TCEQ permit has specific requirements regarding parametric monitoring of the filtration and abatement devices including opacity requirements as well stack sampling requirements. Additionally, the TCEQ has the authority to require additional monitoring and stack sampling at any time if the agency feels that additional sampling is needed.
What does the draft permit say about downwind impacts?
The TCEQ has determined that the proposed project meets all applicable rules and requirements. Off property impacts are evaluated as part of the permit review. The air modeling, performed by a third party, predicts potential off property impacts. That review has been confirmed by professional TCEQ toxicologists and TCEQ Air Permit reviewers and shows no detrimental impacts to public health or exceedance of state or federal standards. In fact, no permit can be issued that cannot make this demonstration.
What is the current status of the permit application?
TCEQ has determined that the proposed project meets the protectiveness requirements and all applicable rules and regulations. It has issued a DRAFT permit that is open for public comment and is available for review at the Victoria Public Library.
What happens next?
TCEQ must respond to all comments it receives on the permit, and everyone who comments will receive a response from TCEQ.
How does the Zinc Resources facility compare to other facilities in the United States?
We are aware of several Waelz Kiln facilities in the U.S. All of the other known facilities have multiple kilns and are considerably larger and therefore, not directly comparable.
Zinc Recycling
What are the benefits to the environment for a project like this?
Zinc can be recycled over and over without deteriorating. The life cycle loop of continuous recycling minimizes waste disposal in landfills, reduces energy use and lowers overall emissions within the steel and zinc industries while also reducing the need for mining new ores.
How will the facility operate?
The dust would be transported from steel production facilities into the Zinc Resources facility by covered hopper bottom railcars or by truck. It would be discharged inside of an enclosed building and sprayed with water to prepare it for blending and turning it into pellets. Carbon (and maybe lime) is added to aid in zinc recovery. The pellets travel from the building to a kiln on a conveyer which is totally enclosed within a steel containment tube. The pellets enter the kiln process through an air-tight enclosure. Heat from the kiln triggers chemical reactions that generates WZO which is entrained in a gas stream. The WZO then settles out of the gas stream while the air is filtered through a very high efficiency filter system. The WZO is then bagged or discharged to a rail car for shipment to customers.
The WIP goes from the kiln through a “cooler” and directly to the “WIP Building,” where it will be tested before being loaded onto trucks.
The unloading building, transfer conveyor, kiln feed enclosure, kiln, cooler and WIP receiving building are all kept under negative pressure to prevent any dust from escaping into the atmosphere.
Victoria Project
What fuel will the facility use?
The kiln will be fueled by natural gas.
How much water will the facility use and where will it come from?
Zinc Resources will purchase water from the Port of Victoria from a new well that is planned for the Port’s industrial park. The Port can supply water to the project within its allotted water supply.
Will the facility discharge any wastewater?
No, there is no discharge of process water. Zinc Resources will also obtain all appropriate stormwater authorization for the site prior to construction and operation.
What kind of waste will be generated at the facility and where will it go?
There is no process waste generated from our recycling process. Spent filter bags are fed to the kiln to recover the zinc. The only waste generated would be from our business operations i.e., normal office trash, wooden pallets, etc.
Is Zinc Resources prepared for a fire or a hurricane?
The site will have an emergency generator to supply power to critical systems to allow for a safe, controlled shutdown in case of a power outage. Recognizing the importance of preparation for industrial facilities along the Gulf Coast, Zinc Resources will have detailed plans in place to prepare for and respond to emergency scenarios.
What are the benefits to Victoria County for a project like this?
Zinc Resources will invest approximately $60 million to build the facility, increasing the value of the land and providing a significant new tax base for the County and other taxing entities over many decades. We will hire approximately 60 people, with a payroll of well over $2.5 million annually. We intend to recruit and hire from the Crossroads region.
Are there other benefits to the region?
There are significant benefits to the infrastructure of the Port of Victoria and for future tenants of the industrial park by solving long term challenges in rail, electricity, and gas lines.
The Port has used CARES Act funds to create a rail loop within the park. Zinc Resources’ project is the inaugural customer of that loop, generating an immediate return on investment to the Port.
The project is the catalyst for a new 50-megawatt substation to bring additional power to the industrial park that will leave significant capacity for future development.
Zinc Resources is paying for an oversized natural gas supply line, again leaving significant capacity for future development.