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• CLIMAX MOLYBDENUM COMPANY HENDERSON MINE AND MILL Henderson 2000—PC3 Overland Surface Conveyor Technical Revision 97 to Permit M-77-342 1.0 INTRODUCTION The Climax Molybdenum Company (CMC), Henderson Mine and Mill (Henderson) began underground mining of molybdenite ore and the production of molybdenum disulfide concentrates in mid-1976. The Mining and Reclamation Permit (Permit) required under the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Act of 1976 (Act) was approved by the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board (Board) in late 1977. This Permit is M-77-342. Subsequently, the permit was formally amended in 1981. In addition, the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (DMG) approved three Technical Revisions JR) to the Permit over the 21-year operating history of Henderson. Two other TRs (TR-04 and TR-05) presently are being reviewed by DMG. These latter TRs are the Environmental Protection Plan (EPP) and the groundwater plan, respectively. TR-06 was filed as a revision to the permit amendment discussed herein. Historically and operationally, there has been little change in Henderson's operations since production was initiated. The mill facilities and mine have been active through the past 21 years with no periods of temporary cessation. Presently, the underground mine is producing at a rate of approximately 24,000 tons per day, 246 days per year; production levels and schedules that are dependent upon market conditions and may vary on short notice. The mine is located at the headwaters of the West Fork of Clear Creek on the east side of the Continental Divide. Mined ore is hauled by rail through the 9.6 mile long main haulage tunnel to the west side of the Divide and, hence, along a 4.8 mile long rail line to the mill in the upper Williams Fork River Valley for crushing and concentration. Henderson employs a total of 601 people at the mine and mill.