Opinion ID: 493685
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Is Electrowinning Precipitation?

Text: 11 Sunshine argues that electrowinning is (or is substantially equivalent to) precipitation because both processes can be used to recover metals from solution. Precipitation is on the list of mining processes in Sec. 613(c)(4)(D). 12 Electrowinning and precipitation use different means to recover metals. The first depends on the migration of charged ions when subjected to direct current and produces relatively pure metal at the cathode. The second depends on the chemical combination of different substances to form insoluble compounds. These important differences detract from Sunshine's attempt to analogize electrowinning and precipitation. Moreover, Congress explicitly rejected the analogy when it defined precipitation as mining and electrolytic deposition as nonmining. 13 Sunshine tries to avoid the plain statutory language by suggesting that, while three kinds of electrolytic deposition may be nonmining processes, electrowinning of antimony is a mining process. In other words, Sunshine argues that the general language which defines mining to include processes substantially equivalent to precipitation should override the specific reference to electrolytic deposition as a nonmining process. This argument fails for two reasons. First, it runs counter to the usual presumption that specific language in a statute controls the general terms. See Markair, Inc. v. C.A.B., 744 F.2d 1383, 1385 (9th Cir.1984). Second, it is self-defeating. No one form of electrolytic deposition can be distinguished from the rest on the ground that it is similar to precipitation. All forms of electrolytic deposition involve the recovery of solid metal from solution; all are equally like precipitation in that respect. 14