2017-10-06_HYDROLOGY - M1977342 ‎(3)‎

• Permit No: M1977342
• IBM Index Class Name: Hydrology
• Doc Date: 10/6/2017
• Doc Name Note: Follow-up Pipeline Failure Notice
• Doc Name: Spill Report
• From: Climax Molybdenum
• To: DRMS
• Email Name: PSH
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

v
COLORADO OPERATIONS
Z.6imaxMolybdenum Henderson Mill
A Freeport-McMoRan Company 19302 County Road 3
Parshall, CO 80468
Phone[phone]
October 3, 2017 RECEIVED
1--'OCT 062017
Via Email and USPS Certified Mail: 7016 1370 0000 2426 8540
DIVISION OF RECLAMATION
MINING AND SAFETY
Mr. Peter Hays
Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety
1313 Sherman St., Rm. 215
Denver, CO 80203
Re: Follow-up Notice for Mill Ultimate Canal Interceptor Pipeline Failure, Permit No. M-1977-
342
Mr. Hays:
Henderson Mill is providing this written follow-up notice to a phone call made to you on September 14,
2017 pursuant to Rule 8.1 and 8.2 of the DRMS Rules and Regulations.
This notice is regarding clean, unimpacted water, which escaped from a break in a piped section of the
interceptor canal, located below 1-Dam. The interceptor canal is designated as an environmental
protection facility in Henderson's Environmental Protection Plan. While working in the area, a Henderson
equipment operator encountered a small subsidence in the ground. After further examination, he noticed
there was exposed piping in the hole. After futher examination, he noticed that he could hear water
running, at which point, he contacted Henderson Engineering and Environmental. Henderson speculates
that the leaked formed over time and eventually developed a small subsidence. There was no evidence
of water standing in the subsidence, nor evidence of outward flow from the area of the break. After
speaking with the design engineers (W.W. Wheeler), they indicated that due to the relatively steep
gradient of the piping in that section, water was effectively jumping across the gap, with a minimal amount
actually leaving the pipeline. Henderson has no way to determine the volume of clean, unimpacted water
which exited the pipeline, but again feels that it was a small fraction of the overall volume carried through
the pipe.
(a) After discovering the issue, the mill services employee contacted a tailing engineer
immediately, who then contacted the environmental group. Again, there was no flow out
of the piping witnessed at this point.
(b) The clean, unimpacted water did not adversely impact human health, property or the
environment. All water lost was absorbed by the ground without ever flowing out of the
subsidence.
(c) The contact person for this event is:
Tim Haynes
19302 County Road 3,