Mining giant Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. spent $150,000 in the fourth quarter to lobby the government on environmental issues.

The company did not list a specific federal agency or legislative branch that it lobbied during the October-December period.

The total compared with $160,000 the company spent to lobby on the same issue in the third quarter, according to a report it filed Jan. 20 with the House clerk's office. A year ago, Freeport-McMoRan spent $110,000 lobbying on natural resources issues.

Freeport-McMoRan, which is based in Phoenix, is one of the world's biggest producers of copper and gold. It also produces molybdenum, a metal used to strengthen steel.