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"THE ONLY THING NECESSARY FOR THE TRIUMPH OF EVIL IS FOR GOOD MEN TO DO NOTHING"
--Burke

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Lomas de paleo, the moving of the north-south rail lines to Santa Teresa, and the accompanying building of roads

Lomas de paleo, the moving of the north-south rail lines to Santa Teresa, and the accompanying building of roads....

All are within the toxic-waste shadow of ASARCO El Paso.   Grupo Mexico who owns ASARCO is presently bidding on a 45 year contract (to be awarded this summer) to bring rail freight from the new Baja Mexico port of Punta Colonet across northern Mexico up through the Santa Teresa Port-of-entry next to ASARCO.

Grupo Mexico controls over half the freight right of way in Mexico through Ferromex.   This new seaport will be larger than the USA L.A. seaport, and non-unionized.

Despite all the military and monies being brought to Cd. Juarez, the illegal concentration camp run by the Zaragozas is inexplicably allowed to patrol with machine guns (illegal for civilians to carry) and the government is reportedly on the side of the family trying to take Lomas de Paleo land from its remaining owners.   

This land is about 2 miles away from the ASARCO smelter stack, and has to be quite polluted by the secret toxic wastes.

Meanwhile Acerlor Mittal  has quietly purchased the tiny steel-plant just 30 miles north of where this port-of-entry is; and, Freeport McMoran bought up Phelps Dodge and is located in the 30-mile plume-area that ASARCO would have reached.

We were an environmental sacrifice-zone.   We are still an environmental sacrifice zone.  

Google Web Alert for: Lomas de paleo
LOMAS DE POLEO: BORDER LAND BATTLE SIZZLES | World War 4 Report
... Freeman affair opens window on intra-elite paleo-neocon wars ... Lawyers for the Zaragozas contend the land in Lomas de Poleo was legally purchased by ...

Friday, March 20, 2009

Mexico has proved oil reserves for nearly 10 years

Google News Alert for: PEMEX
Mexico has proved oil reserves for nearly 10 years
istockAnalyst.com (press release) - Salem,OR,USA
Pemex said the reserves total 43.562 billion barrels of equivalent crude. Among them 14.307 billion barrels are proved, 14.516 billion are probable and ...
See all stories on this topic

Freeport McMoran continuing to sponsor daylong conference for girls in Science

University of Arizona News (press release)
Supporting Girls Through Science
University of Arizona News (press release) - Tucson,AZ,USA
Middle and high school girls from more than 120 schools across Arizona will participate in the daylong conference, which is sponsored by Freeport McMoRan ...
See all stories on this topic

Asarco shuts down Amarillo rod and cake plant next to PANTEX

Google News Alert for: asarco
Asarco shut Texas copper plants this week
Reuters - USA
NEW YORK, March 20 (Reuters) - US copper miner Asarco LLC shut its rod and cake plants in Amarillo, Texas and is planning periodic slowdowns at the copper ...
See all stories on this topic

Grupo Mexico (who owns Asarco and wants to retain ownership; and, who controls over 50% of the Mexico Ferromex rail right-of-way) is bidding on a 45 year contract to carry rail-containers from the new Mexico Baja seaport of Punta Colonet across northern Mexico and up through the Santa Teresa NM Port of Entry, in the toxic-shadow of ASARCO El Paso.  That contract should be awarded early this summer.


TCEQ new website admits that ASARCO contamination has reached the Rio Grande

The people from the TCEQ who posted this data deserve our support and thanks in my opinion. The bad side is that they haven't shown any data on the illegal/secret toxic waste that the EPA let us know ASARCO incinerated for years; and, they waited until the Bankruptcy is about finished.

"Surface Water Impacted by Contaminated Groundwater: Based on surface water analytical data, the contaminated groundwater appears to have reached the Rio Grande."

http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/remediation/sites/asarco.html


Fig. 2 from that website shows the area of groundwater plume.

The Canal Street water treatment plant is about 2 miles downstream from this point.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

website with Asarco remediation information


In your request and follow-up email regarding Mr. Wilkinson's files, you only requested "emails, correspondence or phone logs" on the specified subjects.  By replying that Mr. Wilkinson does not have such items on those subjects, we did not mean that he does not have any information on those matters.  For example, our previous correspondence of 3/12 referred to the remedial investigation reports (available in the regional office) that reference former pond 6, which is now repository cell #3.  Mr. Wilkinson's manager is Jason Wang (email: jwang@tceq.state.tx.us; phone: 512/239-2242).
 
As to notification on the state air and ore-handling permits, this notification was sent out recently by the agency.  You had also inquired about the status of permits that are still listed as active.  Several of these remain active as they are related to the remediation of the site.  However, Permit Numbers 28678, 30490, 32641, 33100, 37039, 37353 are permits by rule that are associated with the previously voided permits and thus, are also void.  TCEQ records will be updated to reflect this status.
 
On a final note, we had previously mentioned that we were planning on having a website with information on the ASARCO remediation.  The site is now live and the address is: http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/remediation/sites/asarco.html.
 
Sincerely,
 
 
Michael S. Chamberlain, J.D.
Legal Assistant

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Office of Legal Services
General Law Division, MC-173
P.O. Box 13087
Austin, Texas  78711-3087
512-239-0478
Fax: 512-239-0606
michambe@tceq.state.tx.us

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Senate ratifies Calderón's picks for Pemex board members, Mexico

Google Blogs Alert for: PEMEX
Senate ratifies Calderón's picks for Pemex board members, Mexico
 ...
By David Biller
Mexico's senate on Tuesday afternoon ratified the four presidential nominees for the professional advisor posts at state oil company Pemex, a spokesperson in the senate press department told BNamericas. The four professional advisors ...
Business News Americas - Top Stories - http://www.bnamericas.com/

20090317 UPDATE 1-Asarco files reorganization plan March 16'th

"Google News Alert for: asarco Asarco files reorganization plan for Sterlite sale"

"Reuters - USA Tue Mar 17, 2009 12:30pm EDT By Emily Chasan

NEW YORK, March 17 (Reuters) - Bankrupt U.S. copper miner Asarco LLC has filed a new bankruptcy reorganization plan that proposes how the company will reorganize itself under a $1.7 billion deal with India's Sterlite Industries ......

Under the reorganization plan filed with the court late on Monday, Asarco said it plans to pay administrative claims, priority tax claims, priority claims, secured claims and convenience claims." [what about Toxic waste??]

"Asarco creditors holding general unsecured claims and unsecured asbestos personal injury claims will be entitled to vote on whether to accept the reorganization plan, according to court papers....

The case is In re: Asarco LLC, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Texas, No. 05-21207. (Editing by Andre Grenon"

Four EDTs for the destruction of chemical weapons

"The Army's ability to meet public and congressional demands to destroy expeditiously all of the U.S. declared chemical weapons would be enhanced by the selection and acquisition of appropriate explosive destruction technologies (EDTs) to augment the main technologies to be used to destroy the chemical weapons currently at the Blue Grass Army Depot (BGAD) in Kentucky and the Pueblo Chemical Depot (PCD) in Colorado. The Army is considering four EDTs for the destruction of chemical weapons: three from private sector vendors, and a fourth, Army-developed explosive destruction system (EDS)."

Link


Did ASARCO El Paso ever incinerate Low Level Radioactive Wastes (LLRW) ?

How can we know that the facility never burned the stuff? Has anyone ever seen TCEQ/EPA or ASARCO site data for polonium, actinides etc from either the pond sediments or from protected areas (like attics) that collect dust??

"Google Alert:
Low-level waste emerges as hurdle for new nuclear reactors"

"New York Times - United States
US low-level waste comes from a wide range of places, including hospitals and laboratories, but the greatest -- and most toxic -- volume is produced by the ...
See all stories on this topic"

Monday, March 16, 2009

House Science Committee Report finds that ATSDR reticent to recognize health effects from contamination

Google Alert:
All Things Reform: US agency ATSDR neglects many communities near ...
"By David Weller
A federal agency responsible for studying and responding to adverse health effects caused by toxic waste is reticent to acknowledge patterns of illness near contaminated sites, according to a report released by the House Science ...
All Things Reform - http://www.allthingsreform.org/"

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Sterlite's revised offer for Asarco

"The revised offer
Sterlite will be paying $1.1 billion as upfront cash upon completion of the deal (expected in 4-5 months). Besides, it will also pay seven installments of $20 million each (from end of second year; total $140 million) and another $460 million as a bullet payment at the end of 9th year—hence, a total of $600 million. ..."
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/asset-gains/351836/
Vishal Chhabria / Mumbai March 16, 2009, 0:28 IST

Friday, March 13, 2009

Asarco Asbestosis case ruling on 3-11-09 favors Policyholders facing liability claims (ruled in favor of ASARCO)

"Texas Court Finds Asbestosis Exclusion in Insurance Policies Limited

Policyholders facing liability because of asbestos claims will benefit from a March 11 Texas state court ruling, according to the law firm Anderson Kill & Olick.

Judge J. Manuel Ba�ales of the 105th Judicial District Court of Nueces County, Texas, ruled that "asbestosis" exclusion bars coverage only for asbestosis claims and does not bar coverage for claims involving mesothelioma, lung cancer, pleural plaques or any other asbestos-related disease.

The ruling came in a case brought by ASARCO LLC on the scope of an asbestosis exclusion sold by Fireman's Fund Insurance Company. ASARCO LLC, et al. v. Fireman's Fund Ins. Co., et al., No. 01-2680-D (105th Jud. Dist. Ct. Nueces County Tex. Mar. 11, 2009).

On motion for partial summary judgment, ASARCO sought a ruling that the exclusion applied only to claims arising from the specific disease known as asbestosis. In opposition, Fireman's Fund argued that the exclusion barred coverage for all asbestos-related diseases.

ASARCO, a copper company based in Tucson, Arizona, declared bankruptcy in 2005. At issue in the coverage action is a determination of insurance coverage for past, present and future asbestos liabilities.

Judge J. Manuel Ba�ales of the 105th Judicial District Court of Nueces County, Texas, issued the Order granting partial summary judgment to ASARCO. Jorge C. Rangel of The Rangel Law Firm in Corpus Christi, Texas, is ASARCO's local counsel in the case.

Source: Anderson Kill & Olick, P.C."

Find this article at:

Asarco Press release: ASARCO LLC Files a 9019 Motion for Court Approval of Its Global Environmental Settlements

ASARCO LLC Files a 9019 Motion for Court Approval of Its Global Environmental Settlements

TUCSON, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ASARCO LLC filed a motion with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Corpus Christi, TX yesterday under Bankruptcy Rule 9019 seeking the Court’s approval to enter into five settlement agreements that will resolve the vast majority of its remaining environmental claims.

The federal government has described this as "the most complicated environmental bankruptcy in United States history." As part of the global settlements, the company will allow general unsecured claims in the total amount of approximately $835.7 million and give $275.3 million in cash to federal and state governments to pay its fair share of environmental liability at approximately 54 sites across the country - making this the largest environmental settlement in history.

"The proceeds from these global settlements will infuse much-needed cash into federal and state coffers, allowing governments to clean up some of the largest sites on the Superfund National Priorities List," stated Mr. Joseph Lapinsky, ASARCO’s Chief Executive Officer.

Last week, ASARCO also announced the signing of a new agreement to sell substantially all of its operating assets to Sterlite (USA), Inc. for $1.1 billion cash plus a senior secured, non-interest bearing promissory note for $600 million, payable over nine years. The proposed sale, which ASARCO will seek to have approved as part of a plan of reorganization and the proceeds of which would fund such plan, coupled with these global settlements, are two major steps towards a successful exit from bankruptcy.

ASARCO is an integrated copper mining, smelting and refining company with approximately 2500 employees. The Company operates three mines, associated mills and a smelter in Arizona and a refinery complex in Texas, which includes plants that produce copper rod and cake, precious metals and by-products. For more information, visit http://www.asarco.com.

Contacts

Doug McAllister
520-798-7725

ASARCO purchase contingent upon 25 million letter of credit on receipt of certain bankruptcy court approvals: DOJ Bankruptcy Trustee and Court continue to ignore ASARCO secret toxic wastes

"13 March 2009  Vedanta Resources is buying US copper producer Asarco for $1.7 billion. The deal is partially backed by two letters of credit (totaling $100 million) from ABN Amro and a $25 million letter of credit on receipt of certain bankruptcy court approvals."
http://www.projectfinancemagazine.com/default.asp?Page=7&PUB=4&ISS=25325&SID=718250   

The DOJ Bankruptcy Trustee has not made the ASARCO Bankruptcy Court in Corpus Christi Texas consider the formerly-secret "confidential-for-settlement-purposes-only" EPA-DOJ document released in 10/2006 (NYTimes).   The next court date is this week March 19'th, and they continue to ignore this.

None of the illegal secret toxic wastes burned in the El Paso Asarco contop furnaces (World's largest) for nearly ten years during the 1990's are being reviewed during the Court's decisions of ASARCO's liabilities.  These are being swept under the rug, ignored and the company is being spiffed up nice and clean for sale.

Meanwhile the toxic wastes remain in El Paso Texas around that smelter and likely in the area that Grupo Mexico wants to rail Punta Colonet freight through:  Santa Teresa, N.M..    We are given no data for Dioxins, PCB, Mercury, Polonium and other basic information.

WE NEED OUR DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO REPLACE THE BANKRUPTCY TRUSTEE WITH SOMEONE WHO WILL DO THE JOB AND  REQUIRE THE COURT TO LOOK AT THE LIABILITIES-FROM-THE-FORMERLY-SECRET-and-ILLEGAL TOXIC-WASTE.



Competitive bids possible for Asarco: Macquarie

"Competitive bids possible for Asarco: Macquarie
Thu. March 12, 2009; Posted: 11:22 PM
http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/2221151/
New Delhi, Mar 12, 2009 (Asia Pulse Data Source via COMTEX) -- --
Sterlite Industries 1.7 billion dollars proposed acquisition of
America's third largest copper producer Asarco may face rival bids, even
as it has entered into a buyout agreement with the US-based firm,
according to a report.

"Competitive bids are still possible, and Sterlite has the option to
match any bids, but has no obligation to do so," Macquarie Research said
in a statement."

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Sterlite (Vedanta) buying ASARCO with ABN Amro Group backed credit

Google News Alert for: asarco
South Asian Syndicated Loans - news in brief, March 13, 2009
Euroweek.com - London,England,UK
Indian mining giant Vedanta Resources is buying US copper producer Asarco for $1.7bn backed by two letters of credit from ABN Amro. ...
See all stories on this topic

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

101 Solutions to a preventable epidemic

"Danger Ahead
We need to ring all the alarm bells about the accumulation of chemical wastes in the bodies of wildlife. ....

We have to fight back, if we want to regain our health ....

Adapted from 101 Solutions to a Preventable Epidemic (New Society, 2007) by By Guy Dauncey, Liz Armstrong and Anne Wordsworth"
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/cancer-in-pets-wildlife-and-fish.html

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Grupo Mexico loses out on bid for Mexico Copper Mine - Invecture Group outbid them by 3 million dollars

"MEXICO CITY - Canadian miner Frontera Copper rejected a takeover bid from miner Grupo Mexico on Monday and said it favored a higher offer from Mexican investment firm Invecture Group.

Frontera's board of directors recommended shareholders accept Invecture's C$48-million ($38,8-million) offer over Grupo Mexico's C$42-million bid......"

"Frontera's main property is the Piedras Verdes mine in northern Mexico, which could produce 32 000 t of copper a year and has a mine life of over 11 years...."

"'It's pretty clear that if by the end of the day tomorrow Invecture has met their minimum tender requirement there wouldn't be much opportunity for Grupo Mexico to extend another offer," Prokop said.' "

Monday, March 9, 2009

"Officials with Grupo Mexico say they still want to take control of Asarco "

google alert:

Arizona Geology: Grupo Mexico may continue battle for Asarco
By Lee Allison
Officials with Grupo Mexico say they still want to take control of Asarco despite the signed agreement to sell the bankrupt company to Sterlite Industries. Grupo Mexico wants to see the official deal before deciding what options to ...
Arizona Geology - http://arizonageology.blogspot.com/