WHERE WILL YOU STAND? FACES AGAINST ASARCO
September 5, 2007
A picture typically says a thousand words. However, on Sunday, September 23, thousands of El Pasoans—family, friends and neighbors opposed to the re-opening of Asarco—will gather together in a community photograph to say one word in a single voice: "No!"
"No" to lead poisoning. "No" to a contaminated environment. "No" to multiple sclerosis clusters. "No" to hazardous waste law violations. "No" to dirty air. "No" to Asarco.
Written by GTLO, www.gettheleadout.net
EL PASO – A picture typically says a thousand words. However, on Sunday, September 23, thousands of El Pasoans—family, friends and neighbors opposed to the re-opening of Asarco—will gather together in a community photograph to say one word in a single voice: "No!"
"No" to lead poisoning. "No" to a contaminated environment. "No" to multiple sclerosis clusters. "No" to hazardous waste law violations. "No" to dirty air. "No" to Asarco.
A press conference will be held tomorrow, Thursday, September 6, at 11:00 a.m. at the vacant corner lot on Executive Center, just southwest of the intersection of I-10 and Executive Center, to announce the "Faces Against Asarco" campaign.
Join us as we take a stand against Asarco. For the health, safety and prosperity of our community and our children, the "Faces Against Asarco" community photograph will be delivered to Governor Rick Perry, with the message that Asarco has been the worst kind of corporate citizen and should not re-open in El Paso.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) will make a final decision this fall about whether to re-permit Asarco and allow them to re-open. The TCEQ comment period on the Asarco permit application attracted an astounding 10,500 written responses—with more than 9,600 comments opposing Asarco and only 880 supporting the reopening. To keep El Paso moving forward, it is imperative that its citizens call and write Governor Rick Perry and the TCEQ to let them know that while the Asarco smelter is part of our city's past, it must not be a part of our future.
El Paso is indeed proud of its industrial economic base and supports the honest businesses that are such a vital part of our community and our future prosperity—however, it must be industry that plays by the rules and makes a positive contribution.
Asarco is not one of those businesses. Here is Asarco's record:
Asarco Has a Lengthy Record of Non-Compliance
The clear record shows that Asarco is not a good corporate citizen and does not comply with environmental standards. Asarco continually violated its state-issued air permit during the entire eight years it operated in the 1990s (1992-1999). Consider this dubious record it has achieved:
- Sulfur dioxide double authorized levels.
- Toxic arsenic and lead levels exponentially higher than permitted.
- Nitrogen oxide (NOx) levels two and one-half times allowable levels.
- Carbon monoxide levels 11 times higher than authorized.
- The EPA has found that Asarco illegally burned hazardous waste from 1992 through 1997.
- The EPA has identified Asarco as being responsible for contaminating residential property soils due to decades of emissions of arsenic and lead from its El Paso smelter.
- There is no way to know whether the smelter is in compliance with its permitted emissions levels, and the TCEQ will have no way of knowing whether Asarco's air emission levels meet the permit terms.
- Asarco does not measure the level of contaminants in the incoming raw materials.
- Asarco measures contaminants from only three of its 103 emission points.
- Asarco does not measure lead, arsenic, cadmium or any other metals from the plant.
- Despite Asarco's claim of economic prosperity, Asarco owes hundreds of thousands in delinquent property taxes on the El Paso smelter to the City and other local taxing authorities.
Despite its advertising claims, Asarco's recent record in El Paso has not been a good one. Its failure to comply with the terms of previous permit requirements negates its rights to have an air permit reissued.
Asarco is a Health Hazard
- It was determined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that approximately 1,100 residences were contaminated with lead and arsenic contamination by Asarco.
- Neither Asarco nor the TCEQ can quantify how much lead, arsenic or other metals would be emitted if the plant resumes operations.
- Some children and adults already carry a "body burden" of lead due to past exposure and this health hazard will continue to grow as new emissions of lead and arsenic from Asarco again settles onto the ground and into dust in homes – exposing and re-exposing our citizens to a preventable health hazard.
- The threat to human health from the exposure of these contaminants from both the air and soil has never been evaluated.
- Data from Asarco shows that, if the smelter is restarted, its air emissions, combined with existing emissions, will exceed federal health standards.
Asarco’s Application Faces Widespread Public Opposition
The international opposition to Asarco’s permit requests cuts across all political, partisan and geographical lines—and includes federal, state, city and county elected officials, the mayors of Sunland Park, N.M. and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, local residents, prominent business owners and civic leaders, and medical and public health officials.
This widespread opposition to the Asarco renewal application is a result of Asarco's flagrant record of non-compliance with environmental protection rules and its threat to public health.
- The TCEQ comment period attracted an astounding 10,500 written responses—with more than 9,600 comments opposing Asarco and only 880 supporting the reopening. Letters continue to be submitted.
Press Conference: Announcement of "Faces Against Asarco" Campaign
When: Thursday, September 6 at 11 a.m.
Where: Vacant corner lot on Executive Center just southwest of the intersection of I-10 and Executive Center.
Faces Against Asarco: Community Photograph
When: Sunday, September 23 at 6 p.m.
Where: Executive Center between I-10 and Paisano Drive, enter from Paisano
Attire: Casual white shirt
Parking: Enter Executive Center from Paisano and look for signs OR Get on the bus at Sunland Park Drive.
For more information, call 544-1990 or visit http://gettheleadout.net/.
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