2008-05-13_REPORT - M1977493

• Permit No: M1977493
• IBM Index Class Name: REPORT
• Doc Date: 5/13/2008
• Doc Name: Incident report
• From: Climax Molybdenum Co.
• To: DRMS
• Email Name: ACS
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Page 1 of 1
Sorenson, Allen

From: [e-mail] ~/ ~ ~ : C ~ ~~~ 6~ aC I - ~ ~ ~7 ~' ~`~" ~ `~`"` C ~
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 24:45 PM ~ n : ~ R y'VI. ~ /~
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To: Sorenson, Allen ~ ~ ~ ~-
Cc: [e-mail] ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~. ,~H e ~ ~.~'~ ~'Q (' NyT ~ ~
Subject: Electrical Maintenance Building Explosion/Fire Incident
Allen:
Included in this email is a summary of the building fire that occurred at the Climax Minesite yesterday afternoon.
As you know, I contacted Carl Mount about 3 hours after the incident to make him aware.
On May 12, 2008 at about 1:15PM MDT, a construction contractor snow plow operator struck an
above-ground natural gas line located at the northwest corner of the electrical maintenance
building. The building is located about 100 yards north of the Climax Mine gate entrance. A
gas line inside the building was damaged by the impact and released natural gas which was
ignited by a building heater pilot causing an explosion which was followed by a small fire. The
building sustained moderate damage as a result of the explosion and fire. The fire was
attributable to corrugated cardboard boxes, wire insulation, and wooden framework which was
proximate to the explosion source. The building was vacant at the time of the explosion and fire;
there were no injuries resulting from the incident. Local Emergency Services from Lake County
and Copper Mountain Ski Area were contacted and responded by immediately extinguished the
blaze. The Mine Safety and Health Administration was contacted and informed of the incident.
The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety was also contacted regarding the
incident. A complete investigation is underway and a full evaluation of the building structure
will be conducted before personnel are allowed back in the building. While the fire was quickly
extinguished by the responding fire departments, some smoke emission to the atmosphere
occurred. Climax reviewed its air quality permit and determined that the incident was not
reportable to the CDPHE APCD. No reportable environmental releases to soils or surface waters
occurred as a result of the explosion of fire. Normal activities related to Climax 2010
construction were not affected.
If you have any questions, please let me know.
Ken
5/13/2008