July 2019 Report
Climax Molybdenum Company has been working with water management and treatment experts to analyze sources of molybdenum at the Climax mine, and options to manage and potentially treat those sources. Thirty-one options were initially evaluated. A core group of options were identified that could limit molybdenum in discharges from the site and merited further consideration. A draft report on these options was made available to stakeholders on May 7, 2019, with feedback requested by June 1, 2019.
Pursuant to the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission’s Statement of Basis and Purpose from the December 2018 Temporary Modifications Rulemaking (Regulation 33, Section 33.61), Climax has included its final written report, “Analysis of Molybdenum Sources, Water Management and Treatment Alternatives” (July 1, 2019) to stakeholders.
Please note that this report does not attempt to recommend any specific molybdenum standard or provide any evidence in regards to what a scientifically appropriate molybdenum standard might be. This report focuses on identifying technical options for reducing molybdenum to various concentration levels, and not what the scientifically appropriate level should be.