Doe Run Backgrounder
Metals Division – Herculaneum Refinery, Alloying and Casting
(Formerly the Herculaneum Smelting Division or Primary Lead Smelter)
The Doe Run Company’s (Doe Run) Herculaneum, Missouri, primary lead smelter transformed
lead concentrate into some of the world’s purest lead. The smelter began operating in 1892
and served U.S. companies and manufacturers with the lead needed for car batteries,
radiation protection, backup power sources and other uses. Doe Run closed its Herculaneum
smelting operations in 2013 as part of a comprehensive settlement with the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the state of Missouri. Doe Run is working hard to
prepare the site for future uses.
HISTORY
In the late 1800s, the need for lead in the United States
But continuing to upgrade the aging smelter to attempt
surged and New York-based St. Joseph Lead
to meet the increasingly stringent environmental
Company entered the booming Missouri Lead Belt as
regulations within the strict timeline imposed on primary
the premier investor. The company acquired a 540-acre
lead smelters was not economically feasible. In 2010,
tract of land along the Mississippi River and
Doe Run reached a comprehensive settlement with the
construction began in 1890 on what became Doe Run’s
EPA and the state of Missouri, agreeing to cease its
Herculaneum primary lead smelter.
smelting operations in Herculaneum at the end of 2013
because it could not comply with the new stipulation in
After lead ore was mined and milled into lead
time.
concentrate, it was shipped to Herculaneum for
smelting. There, lead concentrates were smelted into
CURRENT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
molten lead, then refined and cast into 99.99 percent
Doe Run continues to operate its refinery, strip mill, and
pure metal. Other metals could be added to produce
alloying and casting operations at the Herculaneum site
alloys tailored to the needs of customers. In its last year
to produce unique lead alloy products.
of operation in 2013, Herculaneum produced 124,900
tons of finished lead metal and alloys.
SITE REMEDIATION

THE END OF AN ERA
In October 2008, the EPA adopted a new National
Doe Run is working to prepare the site in a
responsible manner for future business use.

Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for lead, lowering
Doe Run has submitted a plan to remediate the
smelter site to the EPA and is awaiting approval.
the acceptable level of lead in ambient air to 0.15
micrograms of lead per cubic meter of air (µg/m3) and
stipulating that measurements be reported as a rolling,
three-month average. Doe Run spent millions of dollars
on upgrades, engineering and administration control
measures to improve the smelter’s environmental
performance, and as of October 2012, had reduced air
emissions, measured at its five ambient air monitors, to
QUALITY AND SAFETY

Doe Run’s Herculaneum smelter maintains ISO
9001:2008 quality management systems
certification and is recognized for superior product
identification; corrective and preventive actions;
control of non-conforming products; handling,
storage and packaging; inspection and testing;
be between .01 and 0.51 µg/m3.
THE DOE RUN COMPANY 1801 Park 270 Drive, Suite 300, St. Louis, MO 63146 (314) 453-7100
Last updated January 2016

resource management (people and equipment);
Doe Run teamed up with Microgrid Solar in 2013 to
documentation; and data control.
provide solar canopies, roof-top arrays, lighting
The facility reached various safety milestones over
changes, and HVAC upgrades for Herculaneum High
the past several years, including 500,000 employee
School, which are working to reduce operating costs
hours worked and one full year worked without a lost-
and improve the school’s energy efficiency. The
time accident.
company also awarded grants to seven Jefferson
County school districts to retrofit diesel-powered school
COMMUNITY COMMITMENT
bus engines to reduce exhaust emission.
Doe Run will support the repurposing of the
Herculaneum site in conjunction with developers who
Alongside local church and civic organizations, the Doe
recognize the property’s strategic location on the
Run staff supports the community’s annual recycling
Mississippi River. Just 25 miles south of St. Louis, the
and cleanup days. In addition, staff is involved in many
smelter's attractive location allows for rail, highway and
local school and city functions that help improve the
river transportation. In March 2012, Riverview
quality of life within the community.
Commerce Park LLC (RCP) announced intentions to
purchase and develop approximately 450 acres of Doe
CONTACT INFORMATION
Run property. The project is expected to bring together
Herculaneum Refinery, Alloying and Casting
a cluster of light industrial companies offering multi-
Metals Division
modal bulk storage and shipping, renewable energy,
Steve Batts, vice president – SEMO Operations
and alternative fuels. RCP began Phase 1 of the port
881 Main Street
development in 2013, modifying the existing rail and
Herculaneum, MO 63048
barge loading facilities for shipping. Building on a
(636) 933-3133
successful first year of operation in 2013, RCP
[email protected]
partnered with the Jefferson County Port Authority to
www.doerun.com
add a new barge fleeting area on the Mississippi River
near the RCP port. The barge fleeting area allows
barges to park closer to the port, which makes loading
and unloading more efficient. Construction of the fleet
area began in 2014 and was completed in early 2015.
THE DOE RUN COMPANY 1801 Park 270 Drive, Suite 300, St. Louis, MO 63146 (314) 453-7100
Last updated January 2016