Freeport McMoran Copper Mine Acid Leak Clifton, AZ

11/2/08 Site visit

Observations:
We were told by a City Employee that '...100,000 gallons of sulfuric-acid leaked and 100,000 gallons of something I can't remember the name of...'We were allowed to walk around per this City employee so long as we didn't get in the way of traffic. However, while in a public parking lot, we were told to leave by a sub-contractor. There was no barrier, etc that we crossed to access the public lot. Have a slight sore throat from being out there for 1-1.5 hrs! This creek where the leak was, runs right behind a child care center, homes and businesses are approx 15-20' from it.

Opinion:
Got that real 'Silkwood' feeling. The sub-contractors were shadowing us during our visit to the public roads, sidewalks, etc.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Freeport
• McMoran
• Copper
• Mine
• Acid
• Leak
• Clifton
• AZ

[Scorpionwitch]

It was either raffinate or PLS solution which is only 1-2 percent sulfuric acid. Pretty harmless stuff but it still requires cleanup under environmental regs.

[NOMiningOff83]

Good to see what occurs.