Plant worker at Phelps Dodge Mining Company El Paso, TX

Worker trimming bars of pure copper, Dec 1942. The Phelps Dodge Mining Company's 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. http://clui.org/ludb/site/el-paso-copper-refinery http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/owi2001038514/PP/ El Paso, TX, 1942

Area: Mission Valley / Alfalfa