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® Climax Mine <br /> Climax Molybdenum <br /> Highway 91 - Fremont Pass <br /> A Freeport-McMoRan Compan Climax, CO 80429 <br /> p y Phone (719)486-7718 <br /> Fax(719)486-2251 <br /> Sent by Email <br /> June 4,2020 RECEIVED <br /> Dustin Czapla, Environmental Protection Specialist <br /> JUN 'z 3 2020 <br /> Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety DIVISION OF RECLAMATION <br /> 1313 Sherman St., Rm. 215 MINING AND SAFETY <br /> Denver, CO 80203 <br /> Re: McNulty Water Controls—Climax Mine Permit No.M-1977-493 <br /> Dear Mr. Czapla: <br /> On Tuesday, June 2, 2020, Climax completed the first inspection for the year of the Phase I McNulty <br /> Water Controls that were installed in the summer of 2019. During the inspection, it was discovered that <br /> the overburden stockpile facility(OSF)underdrain system had failed to convey water as intended <br /> resulting in a failure of an Environmental Protection Facility(EPF)as defined in Rule 8. The underdrain <br /> system was designed to collect the contact water from the McNulty OSF and convey it in a pipe to the <br /> McNulty Ditch which takes it to the Sludge Densification Plant(SDP)for first stage water treatment. <br /> There is a secondary system that collects other incidental contact water from the area, coveys it to the <br /> bottom of McNulty Gulch and finally through a culvert under Highway 91 and into Tenmile Tailings <br /> Pond. <br /> During the inspection, it was determined that the contact water from the McNulty OSF was bypassing the <br /> underdrain system and was instead reporting to the bottom of McNulty Gulch and into the Tenmile <br /> Tailings Pond. This incident did not result in adverse impacts to human health,property or the <br /> environment. The immediate actions taken to correct the situation was to dig a small trench to redirect <br /> flow back into McNulty Ditch. After evaluation with the design engineer, it was determined that inlet to <br /> the underdrain was not adequate for surface flows and instead was designed for when the OSF was in <br /> place and flows would be subsurface in nature. <br /> This area is expected to experience surface flow for the next year or two due to Climax's reduced <br /> production and stripping so an interim solution has been identified. When runoff is complete and flows <br /> decrease,the inlet pipe for the underdrain will be excavated and graded riprap will be placed around the <br /> inlet pipe to allow the surface flows to enter the pipe directly.A trash rack will also be utilized to ensure <br /> the inlet stays free of debris and rocks. In the interim,the area will be inspected daily to ensure the water <br /> continues to report to McNulty Ditch and the East Inspector remains unimpacted. <br /> Please feel free to contact me at(719)486-7525 or at dkelts ckfmi.com if you need any further <br /> information regarding this matter. Thank you for your continued assistance with Climax Mine. <br /> Sincerely, <br /> Diana Kelts <br /> Environmental Manager <br />