OUR APPROACH
The health and safety of our workforce, host communities and the protection of the environment are fundamental to our extensive tailings management program and approach. Our objective is to have zero fatalities, zero catastrophic failures and zero unplanned discharges from any of our tailings facilities.
Freeport-McMoRan has comprehensive measures in place to ensure our facilities are designed, built, operated and monitored to minimize risk to employees, neighboring host communities and the environment. These measures include substantial internal and external engineering expertise, technological monitoring (including remote sensing), local responsibility and corporate and independent third-party oversight. Our safeguards generally fall within four categories that include: (1) good engineering practices and safe designs, (2) rigorous adherence to construction and operational parameters through monitoring and use of technology, (3) multi-tiered oversight, and (4) adherence to practices grounded in continuous improvement and learning from past experiences, including industry failures and best practices. The safeguards are effectively implemented through the promotion of open and ongoing communication throughout the organization and action at all levels.
We remain focused on the safe execution of our tailings management systems by maintaining robust, multi-tiered governance of our tailings programs. Our Board and executive management are firmly committed to providing the necessary financial and technical resources to maintain the safety and integrity of our tailings management systems globally, with a focus on risk management and continuous improvement.
Freeport-McMoRan's Tailings Management Policy outlines our continued commitment to managing our tailings responsibly and effectively across our sites globally. The policy also includes our commitment to implement the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (the Tailings Standard) at our tailings storage facilities that have not been deemed "safely closed”.
Freeport is committed to implementing the new Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management
As a member of ICMM, Freeport-McMoRan is committed to implementing the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (the Tailings Standard). All tailings facilities with Extreme or Very high potential consequences (based on credible failure mode) were in conformance with the Standard by the August 2023 deadline. All other tailings facilities not in a state of safe closure are expected to be in conformance with the Tailings Standard by August 2025. We are currently working toward meeting this commitment.
Climax Molybdenum Company, a subsidiary of Freeport-McMoRan, sustainability programs are consistent with commitments set forth in company-wide policies defined by Freeport-McMoRan. To learn more, please see our website: fcx/sustainability or 2023 ANNUAL REPORT ON SUSTAINABILITY
PHOTO DESCRIPTION: (top) Tailings area located in Henderson, Colorado
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