Our challenge is to provide metals that support economic and social development while protecting natural resources for future generations.

Management Approach

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.’s Environmental Policy commits us to minimize the impact of our operations on the environment using risk management strategies based on valid data and sound science.

We routinely undergo internal and external environmental audits to assess our environmental compliance, management systems and practices. Employees at each site take personal responsibility for environmental stewardship and develop action plans based on audit results.

Our Safford, Arizona, operations were recommended for ISO 14001 certification in 2008 and subsequently received the certification in the first quarter of 2009. All of our operating locations are now certified to this international standard, which signifies that a facility or company has systems in place to monitor and minimize environmental impacts and to drive continuous improvement in protecting the environment. All operations are subject to regular surveillance audits to ensure ISO 14001 standards continue to be met.

Our aggregate environmental expenditures including reclamation and remediation costs totaled $468 million in 2008.

For 2008, we reported our environmental performance against the GRI G3 indicators. We adjusted some 2007 indicators reported under the prior GRI guidelines to compare indicators on the same basis. As part of our 2008/2009 transition in implementing the ICMM Sustainable Development Framework, we also developed a process for identifying our material risks and opportunities. In early 2009, we established performance goals and targets that we will report against next year. These will be available in our 2008 GRI G3 report.

Our El Abra mine in Chile supports environmental education programs, such as this school garden in the indigenous community of Lazana, to teach sustainable farming and animal husbandry concepts.

 

Minimizing Emissions at Atlantic Copper In 2008, our smelter operations at Atlantic Copper in Spain installed major capital improvements to reduce diffuse gases that were previously discharged as fugitive emissions. A new system equipped to the flash furnace collects diffuse gas emissions produced during matte and slag tapping operations. After the initial installation, Atlantic Copper further improved the system by recycling the fugitive gases back into the furnace at various points as combustion or process air. The system is successfully recycling 95 percent or more of the fugitive emissions, thus minimizing the facility’s overall emissions of sulfur dioxide and particulate matter. This innovative solution was developed by the Atlantic Copper technical staff.

 

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