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HENDERSON OPERATIONS Climax Molybdenum ~ 19302 County Rd. 3 Parshall, CA 80466 APhelpsDodgeCompany [303) 5693221 Fax (970) 725-0038 December 16, 2004 Allen Sorenson / ~~(~'~~~~® Colorado Division of Minerals & Geology / Office of Mined Lands FEB 2 2 2005 1313 Sherman St., Rm. 215 p '/ Denver, CO 80203 (l ~ ~ " Division of Minerals and Geology RE: Incident involving a water line breach connected to a designated EPF, MLRB Permit No. DI-77-342 This letter is to provide written notification of an emergency condition (pursuant to Rule 8 of Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology Rules and Regulations that was reported to your office the morning of December 14`h). This notification was made to report a leak in a valve of the fire water system at the Henderson Mill near Parshall, CO. The fire water system is a component of the mill water storage tanks, which is collectively designated as an EPF (environmental protection facility) in the Henderson Mine Environmental Protection Plan. The leak in the line was ultimately discovered on Monday, December 13`h. Actions underway to correct the upset include: • Providing the out-flowing water a path into the Henderson Mill Tailing Impoundment via existing drainage through Bearpaw Gulch • Isolating the leaking valve • Temporarily blanking out the valve and recharging the system • Replacing the valve as soon as possible A fraction of the water flowed over an embankment on Henderson property outside the confines of the tailing impoundment due to the build-up and breach of small ice dams in the watercourse. The extent of the release was well within our property boundazy and a considerable distance from any surface water (i.e., Williams Fork River). As a conservative estimate, we believe that the mill water flowing for a period of 24 hours at a rate of 23 gallons/minute yielded a volume of approximately 33,120 gallons of water. Assuming approximately half of the water ran back into the tailing impoundment, while the other half reported to the opposite embankment, an estimate of 16,560 gallons may have escaped containment. This volume appeazs to have been taken up by the existing snow pack. It is our belief that there was absolutely no adverse impact to human health, property or the environment from this condition. The definitive cause of the emergency situation has been traced to a cracked valve which was recently installed, and is still under warranty. A manufacturer's defect is the most likely cause of the problem, as the valve was recently installed under monitored conditions by a qualified contractor.