El Paso Copper Refinery, Texas

The Phelps Dodge Mining Company's refinery in El Paso was once one of the largest refiners of electrolytic copper in the U.S.. The  plant, which during the 1950's employed as many as 750 people, was where copper was refined and formed into a continuous-cast rod, which would then be turned into electric wire and cable. In 1986, the plant was compelled to install new pollution control equipment, in order to comply with new arsenic emission standards issued by the EPA. In 1999, operations were suspended at the plant. In 2007, Phelps Dodge Corporation was acquired by Freeport-McMoRan.