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Toxic solution from mine spills into Chase Creek

By Walter Mares
Copper Era Managing Editor
Published on Thursday, October 30, 2008 5:46 PM MST

Thousands of gallons of a highly toxic solution used at the Freeport McMoRan copper mine in Morenci were blocked from pouring into the San Francisco River in Clifton at mid-afternoon Thursday.

A small army of FMI workers descended on Clifton with earth-moving equipment and dump trucks to create dams in Chase Creek to keep the slow but steadily moving dark green solution from reaching the confluence of the creek and river. The confluence is near the Circle K convenience store.

In some places, the solution appeared to ooze down the creek rather than flow. The solution had a strong, foul odor. An unofficial source told Clifton Town Manager Ray Pini that an estimated 43,000 gallons of the solution spilled into the creek.

Freeport McMoRan workers build an earthen dam to keep the spilled toxic solution from reaching the San Francisco river bed. Photo by Walter Mares

FMI personnel and firemen worked feverishly to spread a large load of dirt dumped into the creek bed about 100 yards from the river around 2:30 p.m. It was as far as the solution flowed. More equipment was brought in to shore up the dam and create another dam about 100 yards further up the creek.

Pini said he was told by another unofficial source that "someone opened the wrong valve" somewhere in the mine allowing the sulfuric acid electrolyte solution to run into the creek. The solution is used in FMI's solvent extraction/electrowinning plant to extract copper from low grade ore.

The valve to which Pini referred may be the control mechanism to a pipe through which Chase Creek water is routed around the mine and returned to the creek bed on the outskirts of Clifton.

The creek has been dry for several weeks. Clifton Volunteer Fire Chief Peter Ortega said, "Thank God it hasn't been raining." Ortega said he was puzzled that the Morenci Volunteer fire Department was called before Clifton's Department was notified of the spill.

One witness said she saw green water in the creek around noon. It is not known when FMI was alerted about the spill, but Greenlee County Sheriff Steve Tucker said he felt FMI's response was "very quick."

Arizona Department of Environmental quality spokesman Mark Shaffer said he is not sure if an ADEQ investigator will come to Clifton. He said the agency must first be invited by the town or its fire or police departments. He had received no such request as of late Thursday afternoon.

FMI spokesman Richard Peterson, who was contacted around 4 p.m., said he could not yet comment on the incident.

No known injuries or property damage were sustained. Clifton Police and Greenlee County Sheriff officers were at the scene to control the heavy flow of equipment and regular traffic.

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Comments

27 comment(s)

Contractor1 wrote on Nov 15, 2008 9:50 AM:

" Well, at least I'd do better than the dummy in the White House now. "

Gunn1 wrote on Nov 13, 2008 2:12 PM:

" Contractor1 is living large, good for her. Maybe she could help the president figure out the rest of the country's economy. "

Contractor1 wrote on Nov 12, 2008 5:25 PM:

" Just so ya know, I'm making exactly what I was making while at the FMI facility.

I'd mention the amount, but you'd probably slit your wrists. "

Gunn1 wrote on Nov 12, 2008 12:43 PM:

" Contractors pay better? How much are you making now? A thief is a low-life piece of garbage, if you treat a piece of garbage better it's still a piece of garbage! I'm not sure how it's FMI's responsibility to teach people what their parents should have. "

Contractor1 wrote on Nov 11, 2008 10:38 PM:

" Perhaps, there would be more people interested in working there if FMI paid better.

Another factor that might make someone want to work there would be if they treated their people better.

I'll bet if they addressed these points the level of stuff stolen there would go down.

Just so ya know! "

Gunn1 wrote on Nov 11, 2008 2:42 PM:

" It's funny how all these upset people that were working for contractors at one time could have been FMI employees. FMI was hurting for labor and these people chose to work for contractors for more money. Unfortunately for them working for a contractor has risks and job stability is one of those risks. "

Contractor1 wrote on Nov 11, 2008 2:07 PM:

" That this event happened, as scary as it is, should not be too big a surprise.

Since the contractors have been kicked off the property the average I.Q. there has gone down.

This was not an accident, it is a crime committed by someone who's I'Q' is just barely above his shoe size. "

another contractor wrote on Nov 7, 2008 6:57 PM:

" ya they spill-but guess who they call to clean it up-but as soon as we fix their problem-we are right back down the road-thats loyalty "

to common sense wrote on Nov 7, 2008 6:55 PM:

" obviously you are employed by F.M.I-mining may have BEEN the life blood-now it is sucking us dry=have some common sense-F.M.I is about MONEY-thats it-no loyalty to its town-the contractors who keep it running-and least of all their employees "

OBSERVANT wrote on Nov 6, 2008 4:57 PM:

" Orange vests and steel toed boats aren't chemical proof. Had these people been inside the mine not following proper SAFETY protocol around chemicals that would have been grounds for a write up or termination. Funny how RULES change when the shoe is on the other foot. Hmmm? "

Chong wrote on Nov 3, 2008 5:33 PM:

" Wow man, after looking t the pictures I thought our Mayor, Ron Green had finally had a melt down and was oozing down the creek with out a paddle. "

Are you kidding wrote on Nov 3, 2008 3:38 PM:

" To common sense: the so called personal protective equiptment you mention - hard hats, safety glasses, orange vests and steel toe boots -that is the required clothing for every employee in the mine. The artice mentions a strong odor coming from the green liquid. Would you not be concerned about what you may be inhaling into your lungs? I can tell you that I would not feel comfortable cleaning that mess with safety glasses and steel toe boots. The mine may be what keeps our economy going but they have a responsibility to the community and to their employees. "

Common Sense wrote on Nov 2, 2008 8:08 PM:

" It is so sad when uneducated, ungrateful, ignorant people talk about things they have no idea about. The chemicals that were spilled are not going to cause anybody cancer. Also, the employees working in the ditch obviously have PPE on. Dont you see the orange vests, hardhats, safety glasses, steel toed boots, etc.? Mining is the lifeblood of this whole community and has been for 100+ years and you people talk like this? I have an idea, why dont you stop using electricity and driving cars because without mining you would have none of that. "

continued wrote on Nov 2, 2008 2:55 PM:

" that the spill is investigated by the appropriate agencies and that steps are put into place so this will never happen again.

Members of our community of extremely vulnerable to this company considering that our entire economy and livelihood is based on its success. This does not mean however that they do not have responsibilities to those living in the shadow of the destruction. "

Mistake I dont think so wrote on Nov 2, 2008 2:52 PM:

" Spilling tens of thousands of gallons of toxic material into a wash that runs into our river is not a mistake, it is negligence. In 2006 PD had a net income of 3,000,000,000 (see link below) which it makes by utilizing our resources and destroying our mountains. It is absolutely unacceptable for something like this to happen. A mistake is a couple gallons, not 43,000 (I would be skeptical of this value as low).

Members of this community need to educate themselves on the risks of the chemicals involved in the processes used by the mine and demand... "

pete wrote on Nov 2, 2008 12:43 PM:

" OH my. Electrolyte does not cause cancer. the people in the pictures are not wearing PPE because ey are making a dam in the creek. I was in ifton on the 31st and those who were by the acid solution were wearing face shields and acid resitant pants. "

are you kidding wrote on Nov 2, 2008 12:33 PM:

" To annonymous: As long as is does not cause cancer then I guess it's "OK" for the poor people who live around that mess. I guess none of it will seep into the gound water or it wont be harmfull to the environment in any way. And the employees involved in the clean up who are not using personal protective equiptment will not suffer any ramifications now or in the next 20 years. Wake up and smell the toxic poison! "

Anonymous wrote on Nov 2, 2008 7:19 AM:

" The solution released was not carcinogenic. It was acidic and would cause burns and the copper content would harm your liver if you drank it, but it won't cause cancer. "

shannon hill runner wrote on Nov 1, 2008 8:24 PM:

" I don't understand why the town or the police dept not notify the Az Dept of Environmental Quality after all there are only lots of families still living in this area that depend on the water and a clean environment. Isn't there enough Cancer going around! What happens if one of the men that are cleaning now gets ill. What will you say then - that it was meant to be????? This is a very bad situation. "

PimaTwo wrote on Nov 1, 2008 1:56 PM:

" I'm very puzzled that non of the workers in the picture is wearing any PPE (that's Personal Protective Equipment). Shouldn't the humans have been using some sort of protective gear to minimize the risk of contact with the suspected solution. If the PH was above or below 7 on the scale they needed protection in my opinion.
The situation could have been real bad if contact would have been made.
I guess no one thinks Sulfuric Acid or Copper Sulfate in solution with Sulfuric Acid is bad. "

cman wrote on Oct 31, 2008 4:28 PM:

" Accidents happen no matter how hard we try and prevent them. FMI spends the energy and money that it takes to prevent & control spills of this nature. There are alot of industries besides mining that have environmental concerns such as....almost all of them. I'm sure they will do the right thing. "

Concerned for their health wrote on Oct 31, 2008 1:55 PM:

" This spill will eventually lead to more cases of CANCER for that community. Like if that community needed another chemical added to their water supply. Someone please tell me that earth movers are removing that soil and containerizing it, before the first rain hits. Treat this spill as the Hazmat situation that it is. Over reaction is better than under reaction in these cases. Freeport and the city of Clifton do the right thing and protect your employee's families and your citizens. "

Regina wrote on Oct 31, 2008 1:36 PM:

" To my big brother! Thanks for your hard work and dedication to your job. We are proud of you! Good job stopping the oooze from getting into the river. Keep safe to you and all your co-workers. :) "

MY HUBBY THE HERO wrote on Oct 31, 2008 12:44 PM:

" A HUGE THANK YOU TO MY HUSBAND, HE WAS ONE OF THE MEN THAT RESPONED TO THAT SPILL! AND HE HAD TO SHOVEL FOR QUIT SOMETIME TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ACID DIDN'T CONTINUE TO KEEP FLOWING DOWN THE RIVER! GREAT JOB BABE! YOUR ALWAYS A HERO WHEN SOMEONE IS IN DESPERATE NEED! I LOVE YOU! YOUR BABY DOLL!!! "

contractor wrote on Oct 31, 2008 9:46 AM:

" Must have been a contractor, Because we all it would NEVER be an FMI employee "

Curious wrote on Oct 31, 2008 8:05 AM:

" Way to go to whomever is was that made THAT screw up!! Exactly how is it going to affect the water? (and we know it will!) "

reptilist wrote on Oct 31, 2008 5:52 AM:

" My thanks to everyone who helped to stop the solution from reaching the river! "

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