[ADEQ Media] Silver Bell Mining to Pay $170, 000 in Civil Penalties for Water Quality Violations in Pima County

[media@lists.azdeq.gov]

Silver Bell Mining to Pay $170,000 in Civil Penalties for Water Quality
Violations in Pima County

PHOENIX (April 7, 2009) - Silver Bell Mining will pay $170,000 in civil
penalties for releasing 340,000 gallons of wastewater containing
sulfuric acid and heavy metals into dry washes during three separate
incidents at its open pit copper mine near Marana in Pima County, ADEQ
Acting Director Patrick J. Cunningham announced today.

The pollutants seeped into the soil, which endangered the groundwater in
the aquifer below the mine and exceeded Arizona surface water quality
standards. 

On Oct. 19, 2006, a pipeline break discharged 90,000 gallons of sulfuric
acid to the road side downstream from the pipeline. Between Nov. 6 and
Dec. 11, 150,000 gallons of leach solution containing sulfuric acid and
heavy metals escaped from a leaking impoundment. And between Nov. 11 and
Dec. 13, another 100,000 gallons of storm water containing sulfuric acid
and heavy metals escaped from a storage pit.

The company's Aquifer Protection Permit did not authorize the release of
these substances into the environment.

In response to the release from the leaking impoundment, the company
installed a second liner with a leak detection sump between the two
liners and has begun monitoring weekly for the presence and amount of
solution detected from between the two liners.  


Under terms of the settlement, the company has agreed to increase the
frequency of its inspections to monitor for leaks from its dams, ponds
and impoundments above what is required in its Aquifer Protection
Permit.     

"The leaks from the impoundment and the pit could have been minimized
had they been immediately discovered. The company endangered the health
and safety of the public and put Arizona's natural resources at risk,"
Cunningham said, "and the penalty reflects the seriousness of the
violations. That said, we are pleased Silver Bell and its parent company
ASARCO have begun more frequent monitoring to prevent this from
happening again."

"I appreciate ASARCO's commitment to remedy this contamination. I hope
this case sends a message that we all must be good stewards of our
natural resources," Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard said.

Sulfuric acid is a known carcinogen. Some of the heavy metals in the
wastewater include cadmium, a known carcinogen, and nickel, a suspected
carcinogen that can cause stomach and kidney problems when consumed.

-30-

News media interested in additional information on this or any other
topic concerning the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality should
contact the Office of Communications at (602) 771-2215 or via email at
communications@azdeq.gov.

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