Scroll to end: click web view. Heather Mcmurray 's research uncovering poisoning of 1000 square miles around El Paso by Asarco smelter through what the EPA & US DOJ said was illegal burning of illegal hazardous/radioactive wastes 1991 to 1998. We have never been told what actinides, forever chemicals, dioxins etc are present from illegal Asarco actions(see 73 page 1998 conf. for settlement purposes only DOJ EPA Asarco doc,10/06 nytimes) see "Asarco secret document"
Please donate (see sidebar) to help recoup costs of the work to uncover and blog the information contained here"THE ONLY THING NECESSARY FOR THE TRIUMPH OF EVIL IS FOR GOOD MEN TO DO NOTHING"
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
China CIC signs MOU with Glencore (August 2009)
http://farmlandgrab.org/7717
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Bankruptcy Court still refusing to reveal liabilities from years of ASARCO secret toxic waste burning in El Paso TX and E. Helena MT
"Battle for Asarco to face key test in Texas court
* Grupo Mexico, Asarco and Sterlite head to federal court
* Hearing to set stage for decision on Asarco deal by judge
By Jazmine Ulloa
BROWNSVILLE, Texas, Oct 19 (Reuters) - India's Sterlite Industries... and Grupo Mexico SAB de CV (GMEXICOB.MX: ...) will head to court on Monday to begin the final stage of their year-long face off for control of bankrupt U.S. copper miner Asarco."
http://in.reuters.com/article/mergersNews/idINN1836582620091019?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0&sp=true
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Supreme Court to review Honest Services Law with ENRON case (opinion due in spring)
Look for keywords "honest services" in this blog's search engine. Other
suggested searches are: "Carlyle", "Asarco A.G.", "Swiss bank".
Will the Supreme Court take away this law, gut its effectiveness, or ---
stand firm?
Friday, October 16, 2009
Asarco Buchan Canada: URANIUM values exceeded health guidelines
Grand Falls-Windsor Advertiser
They are testing for the presence of lead and other substances such as arsenic and antimony, all left behind by Asarco, the now-defunct mining company which ...
"That testing, as originally requested by the Town of Buchans, which had concerns about human health, involved an independent consultant's getting 12 samples from the perimeter as well as 12 background samples taken outside the town. The results indicated that, of the heavy metals found, lead, arsenic, uranium, and antimony exceeded human health guidelines, with the lead values being of primary concern.
The sight of the environmental engineers conducting the current round of tests was a welcome surprise to residents like Nellie Chaulk, who came out of her house to find someone taking dirt from her lawn."
TCEQ ASARCO (El Paso) Update
We have added the following update and supporting documentation to the ASARCO web page.
- Summary Status of the 2005 Compliance Directive - October 15, 2009
- Groundwater Data Report
- Groundwater Sampling Locations Map
- Addendum 1 to Construction Report
All of these documents are also available from the TCEQ ASARCO Documents Download page
Monday, October 12, 2009
Why is there a SWISS BANK called ASARCO A.G. (Asarco S.A., Asarco Inc.)??
"Foreign investor Mikhail Katamanin, who in May was hit with a $12-million foreclosure lawsuit on his Highland Park mansion, filed a personal bankruptcy petition June 6 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Chicago.... His debts are described as “primarily consumer,” and the list of creditors includes Atlantis at Paradise Island Resort & Casino in the Bahamas, Caesars Palace Las Vegas Hotel & Casino and Trump Taj Mahal Casino Hotel in Atlantic City. Chicago lawyer Kori Bazanos, who represents Mr. Katamanin, declined to comment. Related story: Lender asserts claim on lakefront mansion"
http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=34626
"A Caribbean investment company has sued to collect on a $12-million loan ...the property is held in trust by Swiss company Asarco A.G., which Mr. Mikhail [Katamanin] controls, according to the complaint and public records....lawyer Irving Drobny, who represents Asarco, is out of the country until next week, according to employees at his office....The claim also is to be arbitrated in Switzerland, according to the complaint."
http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=34626
Irving Drobny is the same name as an attorney representing the imperial family of Vietnam. A Chicago Attorney by that same name also serves as legal council for a Dallas Texas firm, "Transpacific Group" or TPEG. [" TPEG, headquarter in Dallas- Texas, with auxiliary office in HCMC, Vietnam, has played a very important role of great and effective business link and supports to enterprises and entrepreneurs in both sides of the Pacific." http://www.tpeginc.com/aboutus.html
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Former construction mgr for Hueco Bolson toxic-waste removal plant (i.e. "Desal Plant") now slated to be IBWC commissioner
The EPA said that Asarco had contaminated the international Hueco Bolson. Fort Bliss and the EPWU then constructed the Desal Plant on military property, taking the chemical contaminants from the water and pumping these twenty miles away for deep-well-injection on military property.
The EPA and other agencies have not told us what toxic chemicals remain at ASARCO despite an honest Dept. of Justice Attorney releasing a formerly confidential-for-settlement-purposes-only EPA-DOJ Asarco report in 2006 letting the community know about Asarco's secret and illegal activities from the 1990's.
Our TCEQ Director was replaced by a former military person whose background was clean-up of chemical weapons contamination. Our City of El Paso new Sustainability ("Green") Director used to be in charge of the clean-up of chemical contamination from Rocky Mt. Arsenal (which sent material to Asarco El Paso TX for illegal incineration according to the EPA). The Federal State Dept. stated that the IBWC workers are sick and cannot get independent medical care in the entire region -- but nothing has been done.
Now, our IBWC commissioner's background includes building the EPWU/military DeSal plant that removes salt and most chemical contaminants (including Asarco's) from the Heuco Bolson water:
"Drusina was construction manager for over $28 million of infrastructure construction associated with El Paso Water Utilities’ desalination plant."
http://newspapertree.com/news/4303-former-el-paso-city-official-awaiting-presidential-appointment-to-ibwc
APPLE Iphone
"US Chamber Fires Back At Apple In Climate-Policy Dispute By Siobhan Hughes, Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- The head of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday appeared to take a jab at Apple Inc. (AAPL) and Chief Executive Steve Jobs for defecting from the business organization in a dispute over climate-change policy."
http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=200910061815dowjonesdjonline000504&title=us-chamber-fires-back-at-apple-in-climate-policy-dispute
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
History : ASARCO on the island of Newfoundland
Google News Alert for: Asarco
Globe and Mail It paved the way for industry advancement, but also drew international attention to the tiny town, giving the US mining firm ASARCO (American Smelting and ... See all stories on this topic |
"By 1928, it had constructed a mine and mill, bunkhouses and cottages for married workers, a mess hall, church, school, hospital and hydro-electric plant. The company controlled it all, including a ban on outside vendors and the use of a 37-kilometre railroad track to Millertown.
“You didn't get in unless you worked with the company; you didn't get out unless you had a company pass,” said Mr. Corbett, the mayor. “This was a company town for a long, long time. For years, if a miner passed away, his family was given two weeks to vacate.”
Over time, fierce labour strikes were staged over living and working conditions – extra blankets in the bunk house and raises measured by nickels and dimes –"Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Just one ASARCO Bankruptcy Attorney-firm will make almost twice the amount that the entire Paso del Norte Region will get for the whole clean-up
"Baker Botts, Asarco’s law firm, took in $2.5 million in August for its work on the case, bringing the firm’s total payments to more than $104 million during the bankruptcy."
"A doctor tells a rich old man that he's going to die if he doesn't get a new heart soon. The old man tells the doctor to search the world for the best heart available, money is no object. A few days later the doctor calls the old man and says he has found three hearts but they are all expensive. The old man reminds the doctor that he is filthy rich and implores him to tell him about the donors they came from.....'Well this one belonged to a 58 year-old man, smoked three packs of cigarettes a day, weighed over 300 pounds, never exercised, drank like a fish... this heart is going for $500,000!!!' 'Five-hundred grand?!?!', the old man exclaimed, 'why so expensive?'
'Well', said the doctor, 'this heart belonged to a lawyer... so it was never used!'" http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Villa/3059/
Google News Alert for: asarco bankruptcy
Asarco keeps profiting in bankruptcy Arizona Daily Star - Tucson,AZ,USA Since filing for bankruptcy in August, 2005, four years ago, Asarco has made a profit of about $1.54 billion, while pulling in revenue of $5.47 billion. |
Monday, October 5, 2009
Massive secret ASARCO contamination epicenter is less than 15 miles from the SANTA TERESA FOREIGN TRADE ZONE
"February 4, 2008 o. 505-476-3747, c. 505-231-1488 Santa Teresa Foreign Trade Zone Expands Expansion will allow creation of “Binational Campus” SANTA FE, NM –New Mexico Economic Development Department’s (NMEDD) Cabinet Secretary Fred Mondragón today announced the expansion of the Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) in Santa Teresa, NM. The expanded FTZ provides manufacturers, suppliers and logistics suppliers in Doña Ana County the opportunity to locate on the U.S.-Mexico border adjacent to the Santa Teresa-San Jeronimo Port of Entry, near Union Pacific Railroad’s planned $150 million fueling and intermodal facility linking Santa Teresa with Juarez, Chihuahua and U.S. Interstate 10. “This is exciting news for companies doing business in Doña Ana County,” said Juan Massey, Director of NMEDD’s Office of Mexican Affairs (OMA). “By expediting the path to market of certain approved goods and services along the FTZ and eliminating some trade duties and fees, trade will increase to the mutual benefit of New Mexico and Mexico. It’s a true win-win situation.” Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZs) are secure areas under U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) supervision that are generally considered outside CBP territory upon activation. Located in or near CBP ports of entry, they are the United States’ version of what are known internationally as free-trade zones. Authority for establishing these facilities is granted by the Foreign-Trade Zones Board under the Foreign-Trade Zones Act of 1934. The expanded Santa Teresa FTZ encompasses roughly 1,200 acres along the New Mexico-Mexico border, with approximately 2.3 million square feet of existing manufacturing and distribution facilities. “This is a timely initiative, given the imminent fueling and intermodal facility,” said Senate Majority Whip Mary Jane Garcia, D-Dona Ana. “This will be a boost to the economy of Doña Ana County.” [the economic cost of the ASARCO contamination on our health bills, schools, police, agriculture, prisons, etc is not considered] According to OMA Director Juan Massey, the FTZ expansion will allow the creation of a Santa Teresa-San Jeronimo Binational Campus to recapture the original advantages of the New Mexico-Mexico maquiladora (twin-plant) industry with facilities built on the Mexican side of the border within 60 feet of their companion facilities in New Mexico.
Such an arrangement will allow tenants of the campus to achieve previously unattainable levels of economic advantage derived from combining the business climate advantages of both countries. "Santa Teresa will become one of the most important logistics, manufacturing and distribution centers of the U.S.-Mexico border in the near future,” said Representative Mary Helen Garcia, D-Doña Ana. “With the establishment of modern infrastructure, Foreign Trade Zones and the Binational Campus, the New Mexico border will no longer go unnoticed as one of the most competitive staging points for global trade." About Foreign Trade Zones Foreign and domestic merchandise may be moved into Foreign Trade Zones for operations, not otherwise prohibited by law, including storage, exhibition, assembly, manufacturing, and processing. All FTZ activity is subject to public interest review. Foreign Trade Zone sites are subject to the laws and regulations of the United States as well as those of the states and communities in which they are located. Under zone procedures, the usual formal CBP entry procedures and payments of duties are not required on the foreign merchandise unless and until it enters CBP territory for domestic consumption, at which point the importer generally has the choice of paying duties at the rate of either the original foreign materials or the finished product. Domestic goods moved into the zone for export may be considered exported upon admission to the zone for purposes of excise tax rebates and drawback. Qualified public or private corporations that may operate the facilities themselves or contract for the operation sponsors foreign-trade zones. The operations are conducted on a public utility basis, with published rates. Many zone projects include an industrial park site with lots on which zone users can construct their own facilities. For more information, visit www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/cargo_control/ftz/about_ftz.xml About the Santa Teresa-San Jeronimo Binational Campus The creation of the Santa Teresa-San Jeronimo Binational Campus will provide the U.S.-Mexico border the ability to become more competitive against production threats from the Pacific Rim. This binational campus will allow the border region to attract more value-added manufacturers and prevent the further flight of companies to the Pacific Rim. Manufacturing firms will be able to establish operations on both sides of the border within a “stone’s throw” from each other. On the Mexican side of the border, manufacturers will be able to establish the labor-intensive side of their operations and take advantage of the region’s highly skilled workforce. Production inputs from around the world will be imported duty-free into the recinto fiscalizado (controlled enclosure), where they will be transformed into finished products. These products will be transferred (again duty-free) to the staging and distribution operations within the FTZ on the Santa Teresa side of the border. Automated integrated manufacturing, technology research and development companies, software developers, medical equipment manufacturers and electronics manufacturing are some of the sectors that would be attracted to such a business environment. For more information, contact Juan Massey at juan.massey@state.nm.us or (505) 827-0312. #30# "
http://www.edd.state.nm.us/newsEvents/pressReleases/2008/PR-SantaTeresaFTZ-02-04-08.pdf
Gov. Richardson who is ignoring Sunland Park's plea for justice from ASARCO secret contamination) -- behind FOXCONN maquiladora (less than 15 miles from the epicenter)
Governor Bill Richardson today applauded the groundbreaking of a major economic development in Mexico adjacent to Santa Teresa, New Mexico. Foxconn, a Taiwanese industrial giant with more than 500,000 employees worldwide, has begun construction on what will be Mexico's largest maquiladora in Jeronimo, Chihuahua.
(
"This is one of many mutually beneficial projects that I and my economic development people have worked with Chihuahua officials to carry out," Governor Richardson said."
http://www.pcb007.com/pages/zone.cgi?a=22141
Friday, October 2, 2009
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Paso del Norte children should count as much as Tacoma WA children
Google News Alert for: Asarco
37 day care centers will be cleaned of Asarco contamination TheNewsTribune.com ... playgrounds at 37 day care centers in Pierce and King counties, sites that were contaminated by arsenic and lead from the old Asarco smelter in Ruston. ... See all stories on this topic |
"Cleaning up the properties will wind down a program started in 2005 to identify schools and day care centers in the “plume” of toxic chemicals spewed over Lakewood, Tacoma, Federal Way, Des Moines, Normandy Park, Vashon Island and parts of Seattle for decades, and to clean them up. The stack’s plume fell over 1,000 square miles, but the cleanup program concentrated on the 315 square miles closest to the smelter and most contaminated by its operations." (in the Paso del Norte region of El Paso, Juarez Mexico and Sunland Park New Mexico, this distance would include the new planned International City of San Jeronimo/Santa Teresa, and the keystone Maquiladora Foxcon.)
Sunday, September 27, 2009
TCEQ Commissioner tries to pull the wool over a resident's eyes about the ASARCO haz-waste burning.
Yup, the the EPA said it was illegal incineration of unmanifested toxic wastes for years, for money; and Rep. Reyes said that ASARCO paid millions on condition that the details of what it had done would never reach the public. They went to great lengths to hide something. They still are... "Nothing bad here".
ASARCO had put in the world's two largest con-top furnaces just before beginning the secret military and industrial waste burning. The EPA and TCEQ kept the secret activity and then their agreement with ASARCO secret for another 8 years. In five MORE years this community cannot even get dioxin data for the area around the smelter, or PCB data, or mercury data, or even polonium data. Other communities can get this data - but not ours.
It is beginning to look like Governor Perry appointed someone to be Commissioner who is not willing to be frank with the community. It wasn't the TCEQ who initially let us know that ASARCO had polluted the Rio Grande and the Hueco Bolson -- it was the EPA. It was not the TCEQ or the EPA that let us know about the secret waste burning years -- it was a DOJ attorney in Washington D.C. who sent it overnight-weekend mail after a Texas P.I.A. request.
Just a week ago a regional EPA administrator for our city of El Paso got into my face after a local meeting, and was quite upset - almost yelling. He finally said, after I refused to argue or engage in such heated dialog -- he finally said that secret DOJ-EPA agreements like that one (the EPA-DOJ Asarco confidential-for-settlement-purposes-only Secret document -- see link at left on Blog) were a dime a dozen in Washington D.C. and that is how they do business.
What is that old saying... that me-thinks that they protest too much?
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Valero, Citgo get puny TCEQ fines,,Pollute and cause families endless years of agony, then get charge a fine so small it's like buying a cup of vending machine coffee.
Valero, Citgo get puny TCEQ fines
Pollute and cause families endless years of agony, then get charge a fine so small it's like buying a cup of vending machine coffee.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Guess who won.... "Grupo México is extremely pleased with the resolution from the Corpus Christi Bankruptcy Court and considers it a complete victory for the Parent, ASARCO"
Federal Judge Ratifies Superiority of Grupo Mexico's ...
Business Wire (press release)
Grupo México is extremely pleased with the resolution from the Corpus Christi Bankruptcy Court and considers it a complete victory for the Parent, ASARCO ..."
Thursday, September 24, 2009
January 13, 1999 one month before ASARCO closed, the ASARCO site became part of the Empowerment Zone...
The Empowerment Zone (EZ)coincidentally is within the areas hit hardest by the historical ASARCO smoke-plume.
"On January 13, 1999, El Paso was one of 15 cities nationwide, and the only city in Texas, to receive an Empowerment Zone (EZ) designation from HUD under Round II of the federal EZ Program. El Paso's EZ has been named El Corazon de El Paso (the Heart of El Paso) because of its rich historical and cultural significance. Encompassing the central core of the city and a portion of the Ysleta area on the east side of town, El Corazon de El Paso is rich in economic possibilities, yet is also one of the most impoverished urban areas in the United States...."
http://www.elpasotexas.gov/elpasoez/
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Western Refinery uses same Environmental Consultant as ASARCO
applying to be the "Clean-up Trustee" for ASARCO El Paso. They are also
being used by Western Refining to submit comments to the TCEQ "FLARE"
workgroup about flare-air-emissions.
Grupo Mexico stock surges and the PESO firms as Vendata offers to cap ASARCO's owner's liabilities....
"MEXICO CITY, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Shares in miner Grupo Mexico surged on Tuesday after a proposal from a rival in its bidding war to gain control of bankrupt U.S. copper miner Asarco LLC capped the Mexican firm's potential liabilities. Shares in Grupo Mexico (GMEXICOB.MX) gained 7.34 percent to 25 pesos as the IPC stock index.... The peso MXN=MEX01 firmed 0.55 pct to 13.31 per U.S. dollar as the greenback hit a 1-year low against the euro and weakened broadly against emerging market currencies ahead of the start of a two-day Federal Reserve monetary policy meeting." Grupo Mexico soars on Asarco outlook; peso firms Reuters
Friday, September 18, 2009
FNS News: Leading Mexican Environmentalist Killed
Environment News
Mexican Environmental Leader Killed
Editor?s Note:
Internationally-known Mexican environmentalist and forest defender Felipe
Arreaga was killed Wednesday, September 16, while driving his ATV in
Petatlan, Guerrero. The longtime campesino leader was struck by a mini-bus
and died a few hours later in a hospital in nearby Zihuatanejo. Although
Petatlan is the site of a military base, it lacks civilian medical
facilities capable of handling serious injuries. The driver of the
mini-bus fled the scene of the crash, and many circumstances of the
incident are still unclear....Kent Paterson
Frontera NorteSur (FNS): on-line, U.S.-Mexico border news
Center for Latin American and Border Studies
New Mexico State University Las Cruces,New Mexico"
For a free electronic subscription email: fnsnews@nmsu.edu
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Railroad Link from planned International City to El Paso
Rail in the Pass documentation presented to the MPO and others (MPO archived it) (starts page 74)
01/2003 ASARCO highlighted for Intermodal Rail to San Jeronimo/Santa Teresa...
Above figure is from 01/03. Verde moved here winter of 2003 to do the downtown redevelopment plan.
- Remember that "Ferromex" is owned by Grupo Mexico, who owns ASARCO
- that the secret of the toxic-waste was LOCKED UP in the EPA/DOJ/ASARCO CONFIDENTIAL-FOR-SETTLEMENT PURPOSES ONLY DOCUMENT (not revealed until 2006!)
- that the rail remodeling could not happen if the poisons were ever disclosed.
- that the Federal EPA came here in 2001 for "testing" and NEVER DISCLOSED THE TOXIC WASTE
http://www.elpasompo.org/Publications/Transit/tabid/185/Default.aspx
Senator Shapleigh writes about examples of successful Regional Metropolitan Governments
"METRO GOVERNMENT IN THE TIME OF DEFICITS"
Written by Senator Eliot Shapleigh, www.shapleigh.org
"...local governments are taking a close look at consolidation, whereby city and county governments merge as a single taxing entity and service provider.... In 1962, the city of Nashville, Tennessee and the county of Davidson consolidated all services, including the public school systems, police, fire, water and sewer services, planning and zoning, and public works....
Other examples of successful Regional Metropolitan Governments can be found in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, and Portland, Oregon. ....consolidated governments also experienced a 17% increase in capita income, compared to 11% growth in non-consolidated regions."
Citigroup Bank is a "Key Financial" entity for the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority
Citigroup is a primary ASARCO Bondholder
Another Key Financial Team member for the CRRMA is Fulbright and Jaworski, L.P. whose partner Evelyn H. Biery ".... has assisted the official committees of unsecured creditors in the ASARCO LLC case"
The CRRMA is slated to build an elevated toll road right by ASARCO El PASO over Paisano through the worst of the worst ASARCO contamination and over our drinking/irrigation water supply (the El Paso MPO led by Rep. Joe Pickett voted to ALLOW THIS CONSTRUCTION DESPITE THE STILL-SECRET POISONS)
Would El Pasoans agree that it might be possible that these key members of the CRRMA might have a conflict of interest WITH DISCLOSING THE STILL-SECRET ILLEGAL TOXIC-WASTES THAT THE EPA told the DOJ ASARCO BURNED THROUGH THE 1990's AT THE EL PASO SITE??
Is land-grabbing and development of the Asarco site worth more than finding out what happened to this 3 year old child ??
[Westside El Paso] "....Lopez's daughter Danika was born in February 2006 with myriad health problems. She has Goldenhar syndrome, a congenital condition that causes facial deformities and also affected her heart. She has lung problems and was born without several body parts, including fingers, an ear and the bones of one forearm.
Danika spent the first 80 days of her life in a hospital, mostly in intensive care. Her parents' insurance covered her medical costs for a while, but it was maxed out at $5 million when she was about 2...."
http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_13280354
" "We've also seen a lot of what is known as 'Goldenhar Syndrome,' that is where there is a missing left eye and left ear. It's very strange...."
http://nucnews.net/nucnews/2003nn/0307nn/030703nn.htm
ASARCO El Paso was shut down in February of 1999 after the EPA registered the highest Beta-radiation levels in the USA in El Paso in 1998 (we are assured that these readings mean nothing by the EPA, and that we are safe). Four months before the shut-down the TCEQ decided to deny the nuclear-dump-license for the Sierra Blanca site just about 80 miles from El Paso, after press/media events reached international levels.
ASARCO is paying just $52 million to "clean up" a secret-toxic-waste-site on the West side of El Paso. To put that amount of money into perspective, that amount could only pay for medical care for ten children with the birth/heart -defects like what Danika has suffered -- and, only for the first few years of their lives.In 2006 a Lena Katamanin bought a Highland Park IL property from Swiss Company ASARCO A.G. for $496,000 -- it is now being offered for sale at $980,000
"Date Address Price Seller Buyer
Jun 30 [2006] Single Family1380 S Lincoln Avenue $496,000 Ag Asarco Lena Katamanin
(see: http://lakeco.blockshopper.com/months/cities--11/2006/6)
...Owner: Lena Katamanin
Offered for Sale: $980,000
+ AGENT: Elena Maliavina
sales history (2001-present)
Shadow
$496,000 on June 30, 2006
B: Lena Katamanin
S: Ag Asarco
...
2007 property taxes: $12,126.22"
The AGENT Elena Maliavina is listed for the following Highland Park real estate swap in the same Highland Park neighborhood over a single property sold back and forth with the Chicago Title Land Co. Trust with Michael Vdovets
http://lakeco.blockshopper.com/property/1625106001/1380_s_lincoln_avenue/listing/
A Google search shows that a Chicago Michael Vdovets name shows up in connection with a "Center of the Northshore" Chicago IL EPA database... [the "Center of the Northshore" is apparently a condo, bank, restaurant complex being developed on an apparently contaminated site apparently formerly owned by "combined insurance co of america"]
http://www.northbrook.il.us/Government/BoardsCommissions/Passouts/2007/0424APR/documents/TrafficStudy2-21-07.pdf -- and --
http://oaspub.epa.gov/enviro/fii_query_dtl.disp_program_facility?p_registry_id=110007556885 )
Illinois EPA data systems. | ||||
BOL ID # | Facility Name | Street | City | Lat/Lon |
0312075243 | Center of the Northshore | 700 Skokie Blvd | Northbrook | 42.13993/-87.79413 |
http://epadata.epa.state.il.us/land/inventory/deepSeids.asp?strInvNo=0312075243
A Michael Vdovets from Chicago also shows up listed with Kaiser Development Group LLC
http://www.childrenofisraelfund.org/israel56.asp
His name also appears in conjunction with:
"Consultant: GaiaTech, Inc.
Point of Contact: John H. Yang
Address: 200 North LaSalle Street Suite 2600
Chicago, IL 60601 "
http://epadata.epa.state.il.us/land/SRP/Results.asp?IEPAID=0312075243
April 09 Pentagon Knowingly Exposed U.S. Soldiers To Toxic Waste: Leaked Memo [THE ASARCO EPA/DOJ/TCEQ EL PASO HEARING WAS MAY 11 - one month later...]
"Pentagon Knowingly Exposed U.S. Soldiers To Toxic Waste: Leaked Memo
Soldiers report: "chronic bronchitis, asthma, sleep apnea, chronic coughs and allergy-like symptoms. Several also have cited heart problems, lymphoma and leukemia." [DOES THIS SOUND LIKE ASARCO EL PASO?]
"The story then goes on to discuss a Pentagon report titled "Just the Facts" which, given the now-leaked memo, reeks of obfuscation. According to Army Times, "Just the Facts" admits the "occasional presence" of possibly harmful toxins but then attempts to write-off the cancerous Balad Airbase miasma as harmless..."
[We are assured in El Paso around ASARCO that having the highest radioactive BETA readings in the U.S.A. winter of '98 just before the smelter closed was "harmless"]
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/10/pentagon-knowingly-expose_n_173493.html
Monday, September 14, 2009
City of El Paso - will they approve 1 million $ contract to SAIC (high-clearance Government-contractor-company under investigation for fraud; and company that did ASARCO testing)
"SECOND AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT
SOLICITATION NO. 2008-010R BETWEEN THE CITY OF EL PASO AND SCIENCE
APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION (SAIC).....
WHEREAS, El Paso City Council by motion on March 25, 2008 awarded Solicitation
No. 2008-010R for a total amount of $846,545.57 to Consultant for services to prepare a
Regional Growth Management Plan (the “RGMP”) and on even date the City Manager entered
into a Professional Services Contract with Consultant for said services (the “Contract”); and
WHEREAS, on April 14, 2009, the CITY and CONSULTANT first amended the
Contract to provide for additional public outreach services and increased the total amount of the
Contract to $882, 399.32; and
WHEREAS, CITY and CONSULTANT now desire to amend the Contract to provide
for additional services related to presentation and housing analysis activities, to increase the
contract award for payment of said additional services by $156,777.19 resulting in a total
contract award amount of $1,039,176.51, and to extend the overall period of performance and
receipt of project deliverables, as specified herein.....
2. CONSULTANT will prepare and deliver oral presentations of the
major findings of the Regional Growth Management Plan to the City Manager and
selected staff, to the City Council, and to the Mayor and selected personnel. The
presentation will include both physical and electronic versions of the presentation.
These presentations will be provided during the same week as the El Paso Housing
Forum II."
Glencore and Sterlite-owner in same business
http://www.reuters.com/article/euMergersNews/idUSN1341100020090113
Why is there a Swiss Bank named "ASARCO A.G." created in 1998-9? (Do a search on Katamanin in the blog search engine)
September 2009 SWISS Company Glencore developing open copper mine in Zambia where STERLITE owner is largest producer right now...
http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/09092009/323/glencore-s-zambia-unit-start-new-copper.html
ASARCO Swiss Bank
"1380 S Lincoln Avenue, Highland Park, Ill 60035 Owner: Lena Katamanin
Offered for Sale: $980,000 + AGENT: Elena Maliavina
$980,000.00
sales history (2001-present)
$496,000 on June 30, 2006
B: Lena Katamanin
S: Ag Asarco"
http://lakeco.blockshopper.com/property/1625106001/1380_s_lincoln_avenue/listing/
"Appeals court blocks BLM-Asarco land swap" (lawsuit brought by Cntr for Biol. Diversity, Sierra Club and Western Land Project)
PHOENIX —....The ruling in the lawsuit filed by three environmental groups in 2001 overturns a lower court decision backing the exchange long sought by Asarco....It ruled that federal environmental laws required the BLM to compare in detail the likely environmental consequences that would occur with and without a land swap.
"The BLM has not done this. Indeed, it has not even attempted to do this," Circuit Judge William A. Fletcher wrote."
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5izWoekhj3D80CKKt36ghgvjPMD6gD9ANB4EO0
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Someone is making money... while the children of the Paso del Norte pay the costs of the Toxic pollution through Medicaid
A retired ASARCO supervisor told me that his only regret was watching the children playing outside in the dirt in the yards near the Asarco site and his fears for their health.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125266583730602707.html#
"Vendata makes fresh bid for ASARCO"
11-September-09
"BY DAVID MCLAUGHLIN Vedanta Resources PLC made a renewed bid to buy Asarco LLC out of bankruptcy, raising its offer to $2.56 billion ....Asarco said in court documents filed Thursday night that India-based Vedanta has agreed to pay $2.56 billion in cash to take Asarco out of bankruptcy, up from an earlier offer of about $2.29 billion. The new offer comes after a Texas judge recommended last week that Vedanta's offer should be rejected and that Asarco's assets should go to its parent, Grupo Mexico...."
Friday, September 11, 2009
Child born with missing bones, facial deformities and heart defect
[Westside El Paso] "....Lopez's daughter Danika was born in February 2006 with myriad health problems. She has Goldenhar syndrome, a congenital condition that causes facial deformities and also affected her heart. She has lung problems and was born without several body parts, including fingers, an ear and the bones of one forearm.
Danika spent the first 80 days of her life in a hospital, mostly in intensive care. Her parents' insurance covered her medical costs for a while, but it was maxed out at $5 million when she was about 2...."
http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_13280354
" "We've also seen a lot of what is known as 'Goldenhar Syndrome,' that is where there is a missing left eye and left ear. It's very strange. A lot of people believe this has something to do with the radiological problem related to the use [in IRAQ] of depleted uranium [a radioactive isotope].""
http://nucnews.net/nucnews/2003nn/0307nn/030703nn.htm
ASARCO El Paso was shut down in February of 1999 after the EPA registered the highest Beta-radiation levels in the USA in El Paso in 1998 (we are assured that these readings mean nothing by the EPA, and that we are safe). Four months before the shut-down the TCEQ decided to deny the nuclear-dump-license for the Sierra Blanca site just about 80 miles from El Paso, after press/media events reached international levels.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
The Paso del Norte: paying Asarco clean-up dollars out of your pocket and mine...
"On May 27, 2004 the El Paso Water Utilities Public Service Board (PSB) promised DOD that PSB would build the world's largest inland desalination plant on Fort Bliss property to allow Fort Bliss to keep its existing wells in reserve as a strategic buffer"
AND ALL THAT TIME THE FEDERAL DEPT. OF JUSTICE, THE EPA, THE TCEQ and ASARCO KNEW THAT ASARCO HAD CONTAMINATED THE HUECO BOLSON AND THE RIO GRANDE; and, that ASARCO had signed onto a 1998 confidential settlement admitting it had burned secret illegal (and unknown) toxic wastes for profit for years. In exchange, Rep. Reyes later said, Asarco paid millions on condition that the details of what it had done would never be revealed to the community.
Some of that secret waste was military waste; and, now the desal plant that would remove 99% of the contaminants from the Hueco-Bolson-water was being built -- and, the contaminants piped over 20 miles N.E. to deep-well-injection sites on Fort Bliss property.
What exactly did Asarco burn? And what exactly did they contaminate the Hueco Bolson with and in what amounts? Why were we never told? And now, to add insult to injury, the Taxpayer will foot the bill to remove ASARCO toxic wastes from the Hueco Bolson water? (Asarco had dumped chemicals offsite to the sewage plant(s) for years, and then the water was treated as purple-pipe water to re-inject into the Hueco Bolson aquifer to replenish it.)
"May 13, 2005....the PSB General Manager signed an agreement to build the desalination plant on Fort Bliss property.(3) The agreement guaranteed PSB nothing in return."... "On Aug. 18, 2009, PSB announced plans to execute an easement, water supply contract (4) and water purchase contract (5) with Fort Bliss. If Fort Bliss does not pay its fair share of costs, El Paso citizens will be forced to make up the difference. The easement, water supply contract and water purchase contract could cost El Paso citizens as much as $930 million."
ASARCO EL PASO will pay only 52 million dollars to the community for clean-up of its site, under the Corpus Christi Bankruptcy court that is ignoring the liabilities from ASARCO EL PASO's illegal activities (the DOJ Bankruptcy Trustee and the Court are ignoring that the DOJ made PUBLIC the 1998 EPA-DOJ Asarco confidential-for-settlement-purposes-only-document).
"building a border fence is to build an economic platform" and the folks wanting this to happen have been planning for this "model" for years
Quote (see below): "The option to building a border fence is to build an economic platform which both creates economic and national security in urban cities..."
"But first we start with a question: What is the option to not building the exiting fence? Or is there another option?
bordercommerce.com would answer to this question with the following.
The option to building a border fence is to build an economic platform which both creates economic and national security in urban cities. When the levee is not proving flood protection, then it should also be used in an economic fashion. As part of the re-construction of the levee, which would mean a small height increase and creating a usable deck upon which it will become the foundation for economic development between El Paso and Cd. Juarez for all the approximately 20 miles of border they share.
Investment in this new levee with a deck, connections to this deck, development and / or re-development along these connections, personal ports of entry using this new deck are parts of what will become the new paradigm of securing our border urban cities [i.e "plural"] and creating economic activity to sustain this security.
This is how we answer the question above.
What about Asarco?
Well it is near this three state, two nation focal point where this new vision of the border can begin. Asarco, its land near the river and across the freeway towards Executive drive and bounded by UTEP as well, just happens to be between that area.
Monday, September 7, 2009
puerto de guaymas and Arizona rail route : What you aren't being told in the Paso del Norte
The Ferromex line [yellow] travels to Nogales and Naco. The dark blue line is the UP Railroad (east-west) Sunset Line. UP Railroad is the one that presently goes through the ASARCO contaminated site in El Paso Texas, and that uses crushed slag for ballast on its rails as far away as at least Alpine. UP is presently continuing on its plans for a fuel tank farm and intermodal loading/offloading ramp at the Santa Teresa Airport -- within the 15 mile zone of contamination from the ASARCO stacks....
"It was published in the Official Newspaper of the federation, the Rules of General Character in the matter of Foreign trade 2009, where the multimodal runner Guaymas-Mexicali gets up itself officially. Day 29 of April of this year, left published in the Official Newspaper of the federation, the Rules of General Character in the matter of Foreign trade 2009, where the multimodal runner Guaymas-Mexicali within the Agreement of Agreement for the Development of Multimodal Runners of the country gets up itself officially, supported in article 131 of the Customs Law, will be able to be promoted the international transit by railroad between the customs of Guaymas and running present Mexicali.El multimodal Guaymas-Arizona during the period of January-December of the 2008 registered a movement of 220.000 tons of merchandise in traffic of international transit, which is equivalent to a 206% of increase with respect to previous the immediate year."
(babelfish online translation) http://www.puertodeguaymas.com/noticias/12-notas-del-puerto/96-nuevo-corredor-multimodal-guaymas-mexicali- (see map above, from this weblink)
"In late 2008, the Puerto de Guaymas announced its plan to construct a new container terminal with capacity to handle more than 100 thousand container a year. The terminal will focus on traffic with the US’s southwestern markets and regional markets in Mexico."
Arcelor Mittal (Mexico plant) is providing the steel. This is the company that bought the Border Steel tiny plant just north of El Paso TX, about 30 miles away -- which may still put it in the contamination zone from Asarco.
"ARCELOR MITTAL starts operations on Puerto de Guaymas "
Arcelor Mittal is the company that bought the tiny "Border Steel" plant just up Inter-State Highway I10 from El Paso, TX. Arcelor Mittal has a bad environmental-reputation.
http://www.puertodeguaymas.com/home-interior?task=view
Sunday, September 6, 2009
"The Perfect Storm at the NAFTA Institute"
http://www.discussdac.com/blog/tag/economy/
"There’s a perfect storm brewing in and around southern Dona Ana County.
While much of the storm is off in the future, when combined with current conditions it will permanently transform Dona Ana County’s economy.
Specifically I’m talking about the following:
- The Santa Teresa International Border Crossing
- The Dona Ana County International Airport
- Access to I-10 and I-25
- The relocation and expansion of Union Pacific’s railroad station
- What will be one of the largest electronic manufacturing campuses in the world [FOXCONN]
- And a new port in northern Baja
Considering the dramatic affect that this list will have on our future, we need to be very aware of what is currently happening and where we are going.
Punta Colonet
Located in northern Baja, this new port will become to Mexico what the New York and New Jersey port is to the United States. In other words, this port will be massive.[Grupo Mexico is bidding on the 50 year contract to run the port and run the rail to Santa Teresa]
While it may seem logical that a port of this size would look to enter the U.S. at the closest international border crossing, southern California’s congestion and the strategic location of Santa Teresa may make it more efficient right here.
So what do they see in southern Dona Ana County?
Union Pacific
Union Pacific is relocating its fueling station out of downtown El Paso and into Santa Teresa with plans on expanding into a block swap and inter-modal station [the station's planning is done, the BLM land swap with N.M. is done, and the next step is for N.M. to "auction the land" off (i.e. to U.P.)]
Why does this matter? It matters because it will make railroad trade coming out of this area more efficient. The railroad will someday be able to avoid both downtown El Paso and downtown Juarez, and the open land offers room for growth and minimal utility conflicts.
Our location is currently the northern end of the Sunset Line which starts in San Diego. The route then opens up to the north, east and southeast. When you factor in the interstates, the international airport and the border into the equation, Santa Teresa could become one of the most efficient locations to start your trade in the United States.
Foxconn
The world’s largest manufacturer of electronics sees the potential for profit here.
In fact, they have invested in 240 hectors west of Juarez where they’re planning a manufacturing campus complete with dormitories, restaurants and recreation areas. They are planning to employ 10k employees in the next 2 years, and word on the street is they are looking to employ 30k in the long run. By the end of their first year they will already employ over 5k.
Where are we going?
When you combine the expansions of these companies into Dona Ana County with the airport, the border crossing, and the interstates you get something that exists nowhere else in the United States or Mexico. It truly is the perfect storm for the future of U.S./Mexico trade. [and it is being built within the 15 mile toxic-zone of ASARCO's stacks, without *anyone* declaring what the decade of illegal secret military/industrial waste-burning left in the Paso del Norte...and, without any effort to clean up dioxins, pcb's, polonium (radioactive lead), actinides (radioactive), etc.]
As manufactures look for the most efficient place to produce and distribute to the U.S. the Juarez/Santa Teresa area is destined to be at the top of the list.
To make this work we need to pay more attention to security on the border and consider more self imposed security measures. We also can’t forget that there are legitimate concerns with NAFTA in the United States, and we cannot ignore that manufacturers choose Mexico for its cheap labor.
While I am not about to enter into a lengthy examination of the pros and cons of NAFT in this article, it seems like only yesterday (actually 1998-1999) that I was studying the affects of NAFTA with Neil Harvey at New Mexico State University. Funny the way it is that today I am continuing to study this from a more unique position.
Dona Ana County's Role
And from my position today I’m looking at what Dona Ana County can do to benefit. Most pressing is the need for the county and Sunland Park to step up the efforts to finalize the utility and land management organization that will serve Santa Teresa.
In addition, the county needs to coordinate with other organizations. They include the New Mexico Department of Economic Development, the New Mexico Border Authority, the International Business Accelerator and the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance (among others).
Together we need to continue to recruit and market ourselves to the industries that are looking for a U.S. base of operations. And we need to be prepared to offer housing and commercial space for companies looking to work on the U.S. side of the border.
To succeed it will take the hard work of each organization listed above and we all need to be committed to finding the right way to benefit from our unique position in this perfect storm."
[reprinted for fair use]
El Paso Inc. Feb. 11 2007 "letter-to-the-Editor"
Dear Mr. Fenton,
Thank you for the article and photo about the repair of the old upper
American canal's broken panel, showing the Jobe Concrete truck pouring
cement for the new panel, near the American Dam (established by
International Treaty for the delivery of waters to Mexico and the USA).
http://www.elpasoinc.com/showArticle.asp?articleId=971
We know from the IBWC's reports that 24 million dollars worth of
hazardous waste is in the soil beneath those panels right there. Some
of it is odorless and tasteless. We know from the EPWU's water reports
above and below that buckled-panel that it is leaking into that water
still flowing past the feet of those men, who are now exposed to it.
Those men are not wearing masks, most are not wearing gloves -- no one
is wearing white environmental suits. Some of those men will wash their
clothes at home or in commercial laundromats, and family members (maybe
pregnant wives or growing kids) will handle the contaminated clothing.
We know that between mid-March and mid-October that El Paso will get its
drinking water from this canal; and, that contamination still leaks
through the old-joints and the weep-holes into the canal where
ground-water touches the liner. The contamination will pass along over
70 miles of agricultural irrigation canal. The farmland below Asarco
has been called an "arsenic time-bomb" in at least one research paper.
Our community knows that Asarco burned illegal hazardous waste for
nearly a decade just a stone's throw away from this liner.
Smeltertown, in the background of this photo on the EP Inc., had 18
inches of soil removed nearly 40 years ago, for just the Pb (lead)
content alone.
The panels in that old canal were made over 70 years ago of 3 inches of
concrete laid over re-bar, just like in that photo - and layered in two
directions. They should be made of 4 inches of reinforced concrete.
This is a patch-job it appears, and the rest of the 3 miles and 400 or
so panels are still in danger of failing. The panels' failure was
predicted years ago.
The State Department in spring of '05 reviewed the various IBWC sites
and said that the employees at American Dam next to old-smeltertown were
sick, and that they were not getting independent medical review from
this region.
How long will our regulatory agencies responsible for our well-being
continue to conceal its conflicts of interests from this community and
pass along the responsibilities to the next generation---
"pass-the-buck", in cancers, lead exposure, arsenic trioxides and
actinide exposures?
Thursday, September 3, 2009
[91 year old] former ASARCO worker sees no harm
"El Paso Times Staff Posted: 09/01/2009 12:00:00 AM MDT --- Former worker sees no Asarco harm
After reading and hearing so much about Asarco, and how it supposedly has caused severe medical conditions for some individuals, I would like to go on record with a different perspective. I began working at Asarco in 1937, interrupted my career to join the Army during World War II, and upon my return gladly resumed my duties there. With combat experience and all, plus almost 42 years of service to Asarco, I can honestly say I have never had health problems that my doctors or I believe were as a direct or indirect result from my time with Asarco. Indeed, as I hopefully turn 91 in a couple of weeks, I can further state with a great deal of certainty that my long, on-site exposure to Asarco had no impact on my physical or mental state during my tenure with it, or during my retirement.
Benjamin Sida"
Mexico stocks begin rebound now
"Mexico's IPC equity index rose 0.7% to 27,927 as investors hunted for bargains ...shares of Grupo Mexico added [3.5%] to their 14% surge from the previous session after a judge's ruling puts the company closer to regaining control of Asarco LLC, an
Market heavyweight
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djhighlights/200909021557DOWJONESDJONLINE000579.htm
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Hon Hai (Foxconn) shows record profits (So does Grupo Mexico)
— Kota Ezawa, Citigroup analyst" [Citigroup is an ASARCO principle bondholder, and Foxconn has become the anchor-maquiladora for the new international city being built within the toxic-shadow of the El Paso ASARCO smelter]
"Hon Hai, the world’s largest contract maker of electronics, gained 6.8 percent to close at NT$118.5 on the Taipei Stock Exchange, the highest level since Aug. 29 last year. The company on Monday posted its first profit increase in five quarters, beating analysts’ estimates. Second-quarter net income rose 27 percent to NT$15.1 billion (US$460 million) from a year earlier."
[both Grupo Mexico and Hon Hai are showing recent record profits. Meanwhile, the community of El Paso Texas gets @52 million to "remediate" 110 years of Asarco's legal and illegal incineration activities -- many of the remaining contamination has NOT BEEN DISCLOSED. The EPA has documentation saying that contamination is in our Rio Grande, the Hueco bolson, our soils and redistributed through our airshed.]
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2009/09/02/2003452602
FNS News: Sony Outsources Border Factory [to Foxconn in Tijuana] ASARCO Bondholder Citigroup Inc. analyst comments
Battered by multi-billion dollar losses, Sony Corp. ...announced this week it will sell a 90 percent interest in a [Tijuana/Baja] factory that manufactures LCD television screens to Hon Hai Precision Industry Co.of Taiwan ...[it] will be managed by Hon Hais Foxconn division.
Foxconn, however, is among many electronics manufacturers that routinely outsource jobs to temporary employment agencies which dont pay the full range of benefits....In addition to Tijuana, Foxconn is currently expanding production activities in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua....
Sources: Frontera, September 1, 2009. Los Angeles Times/Associated Press, September 1, 2009. Juarez-El Paso Now, August 2009. Cereal report, October 2007. Frontera NorteSur (FNS): on-line, U.S.-Mexico border news Center for Latin American and Border Studies New Mexico State University Las Cruces,New Mexico"
see also http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2009/09/02/2003452602
"Hon Hai Precision Industry Co (鴻海精密) will buy the stake in a liquid-crystal-display TV unit based in Tijuana, Mexico, and the unit’s manufacturing assets...The sale signals that Sony — which is cutting 16,000 jobs and has shut eight factories to revive its profitability as it heads into its first consecutive annual losses since its listing in 1958 — may eventually stop making TVs, said Kota Ezawa, an analyst at Citigroup Inc in Tokyo."
exactly how much "Caffeine" did Asarco release in the Paso del Norte?
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gRNiTtgwAEeIASdS5QDK8fH0NlQAD9AERFPO0 "Effort in NM to keep medications out of Rio GrandevBy SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN (AP) Sept 1, 2009 ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — New Mexico's largest water utility announced a plan Tuesday aimed at educating the public and keeping pharmaceuticals out of one of the West's most important water ways, the Rio Grande. The announcement by the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority follows a recent discovery in the Rio Grande of caffeine, which scientists often look for as a possible signal for the presence of other contaminants.[ i.e. the "canary in the mine"] An environmental group also reported earlier this summer that it found traces of pharmaceuticals in the Rio Grande Valley's irrigation system."
Grupo Mexico Attorney Firm
http://amlawdaily.typepad.com/amlawdaily/2009/09/the-bankruptcy-files-asarco-set-for-chapter-11-exit.html
For more, do a search with the blog's search engine.
and:
"Milbank is unquestionably one of the best firms around... standing in the top band nationally with Skadden, Latham, White & Case and Chadbourne. Working out of DC, NY and LA, the firm’s projects team interacts seamlessly with the London, Tokyo Hong Kong and Singapore offices on complex multijurisdictional financings, mainly on the lender side of power, mining, transportation infrastructure and oil and gas work. "
http://www.chambers-associate.com/chambers.aspx?fid=119
The Asarco Bankruptcy is only part of the story...
This city is the first of many (the model could be "sold") that could be built in the NAFTA zone from San Diego to Brownsville -- aimed toward the coveted target-market that lies within the 300 mile "zone" along our U.S.A. eastern seaboard.
Carlye owns CSX railroad along the eastern seaboard.
Grupo Mexico is hoping to bid and win on a 50 year contract to run the Port of Punta Colonet and the freight rail to this international city and its port of entry -- the north/south rail has already been arranged. UP Railroad has begun to aquire the land north of this site for its modal container platform and oil storage for its east-west Sunset line --- also within the toxic shadow of the EL Paso Asarco stacks.
- And it is all done by ignoring the illegal and secret ASARCO contamination sealed in the 1998 DOJ settlement with Asarco.
- It is all done by sacrificing the young, the elderly and infirm living in this region to the toxic waste.
- It is done by marginalizing those who seek to speak out, and eliminating their economic-base.
- It is done by sacrificing people living across from the smelter in Mexico and by sacrificing Mexican Americans in this border city.
- It is done by putting profit above health - - and profit above scruples.
- It is done by looking the other way and talking about "risk-assessment" when trying to link 110 years of smelting toxins to the health problems surrounding the stacks-of-asarco
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Who bet on Grupo Mexico? BIG gains in stock
Grupo Mexico Jumps Most in 15 Years After Asarco Unit Ruling "Bloomberg US Bankruptcy Judge Richard Schmidt yesterday sent his recommendation to a district court judge who will make the final decision on Asarco, more than five ..." |
Grupo Mexico stock surges after Asarco ruling Forbes ... "surged on Tuesday after a US judge recommended that the company be allowed to take control of US copper miner Asarco as it emerges from bankruptcy. ..." |
"Bankruptcy Court Recommends Parent Plan [Grupo Mexico] in ASARCO LLC Reorganization"
Bankruptcy Court Recommends Parent Plan in ASARCO LLC Reorganization "Reuters The judge`s recommendation proposes that the federal district court approve the parent companies` plan rather than the one filed by the debtor, ASARCO LLC ..." (google alert) |
Monday, August 31, 2009
ASARCO Montana EPA Chief dies from climbing accident Thursday August 20, two weeks after the stacks were demolished
[Montana's State EPA Chief...]"John Wardell arguably changed the landscape across Montana more than any other single person in recent times, and his death last week in a climbing accident is being mourned throughout the Treasure State....Wardell died last Thursday after tumbling down a steep mountainside in the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness Area near Libby....Wardell also presided over most of reclamation work in ... East Helena [Asarco]. Just two weeks ago, he watched as the three Asarco smokestacks in East Helena were blown up...he mused about how he had worked on the East Helena site even before moving to Montana, and how he anticipated signing the final Record of Decision regarding the city's Superfund cleanup work.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
A careful balancing Act: Neither side willing to admit what happened in El Paso Texas...
The following is an excerpt of M. Bosque's TX Observer article http://www.voiceyourself.com/site/the_big_issues/article.php?article_id=5908&prev_id=
"....On a hot afternoon in June, the 54-year-old Larrea, one of the world's richest men, took the witness stand at the federal courthouse in Brownsville. It was the first time many of the people inside the courtroom - including attorneys on his payroll - had ever seen the reclusive Mexican billionaire. There are few available photos of Larrea and little public information about his private life. He had fought the federal subpoena compelling him to testify for days. He had finally relented and flown into Brownsville on his private jet from Mexico City earlier that morning. Security guards had banned photographers from the front steps of the courthouse. Shortly before his testimony, Larrea was whisked into the courtroom under the escort of several armed U.S. marshals, who remained on site throughout his five hours on the stand.
Seated in the witness chair, Larrea glowered at the 30 lawyers in the courtroom - representing Asarco, and Grupo Mexico - business reporters, miners, and large, moveable bookcases of evidence that had been wheeled into the room. Larrea had come to defend himself in a lawsuit alleging that he had defrauded Asarco's creditors.
The case in which Larrea was testifying is an outgrowth of the bankruptcy. When Asarco filed for Chapter 11, federal Judge Richard Schmidt removed Asarco from Larrea's control. Bankruptcy experts say this was a highly unusual move. Larrea's Grupo Mexico still technically owns the company, but no longer has any say in operations. The judge appointed a three-member independent board to oversee Asarco (the board remolded the company into an entity called Asarco LLC). The board is supposed to ensure that the company isn't deceiving several hundred creditors with unpaid contracts and asbestos claims.
Controlled by the independent board, Asarco LLC then sued its former bosses at Grupo Mexico. The lawsuit alleges that Larrea had defrauded Asarco's creditors by swiping Asarco's most valuable asset - Peru's largest copper company. The Peruvian mines' stock was worth $8.25 billion at the time the lawsuit was filed in 2007, according to court records, though Larrea transferred the mines from Asarco to a Grupo Mexico subsidiary at a grossly undervalued price, $756 million, according to the lawsuit. The suit accuses Larrea of bilking creditors out of billions of dollars. "The plaintiff contends that the sale, therefore, was not made to improve Asarco's financial position, but was solely a means for Grupo to 'cherry-pick' Asarco's most prized asset before it was lost to creditors or by bankruptcy," the suit alleges. Asarco LLC wants the value of the Peruvian company stocks returned to Asarco LLC creditors.
The lawsuit is a legal sideshow to the larger bankruptcy case. But the outcome of the lawsuit could have a huge impact. Some of the money at stake in the lawsuit over the Peruvian mines could help pay for cleanup of Asarco's environmental pollution. (The U.S. government considers the Peruvian mines a crucial asset in paying to clean up Asarco's many toxic sites.)
On this June day in Brownsville, Larrea had come to tell his side of the story. Federal Judge Andrew Hanen had to silence the courtroom before Larrea could begin his testimony. The CEO wore a conservative, well-tailored, dark blue business suit with a red tie. For such a powerful man, Larrea was surprisingly soft-spoken, answering the lawyers and judge in a hushed and barely audible, but fluent, English. Several times, the judge asked him to speak louder so that people in the back of the courtroom could hear.
Larrea repeatedly denied that his motive for purchasing Asarco was to gain control of the valuable Andean copper mines. The CEO said the decision on the mines was solely the opinion of some Asarco and Grupo Mexico officials. (U.S. marshals ensured that no journalists could get within speaking distance of the billionaire.) In a separate statement from his company, he called Asarco LLC's lawsuit "reprehensible."
His history with Asarco began in 1999, when Larrea took over as CEO of Grupo Mexico shortly after his father's death. One of his first purchases was Asarco, for $2.2 billion. [Purchased after the EPA/DOJ sealed the information about what had happened, and after the El Paso site was shut down "temporarily"] At the time, however, the once-powerful Asarco was hemorrhaging cash.
Initially, Larrea testified in Hanen's courtroom, he believed the company's growing environmental liabilities could be solved through negotiations. [What negotiations were made to get someone on the board of Asarco (Grupo Mexico) to buy it after this devastating environmental catastrophe happened -- i.e., incinerating unmanifested illegal toxic wastes from military & industrial sources for years in the heart of a community??!] "In those days, we were confident we could reach an agreement with all parties on the remediations," Larrea said. "But then the company started losing too much money on legal issues."
By 2002 [Right after the EPA came to El Paso TX to "test" in 2001, but EPA still kept the real contamination SECRET], officials in the U.S. Department of Justice worried that Asarco would sell off its most valuable asset - the Peruvian mines - and would be left with nothing to pay for its numerous environmental cleanups. The department sought an injunction to stop the sale. Negotiations between the Justice Department and Grupo Mexico labored on until the end of 2002.[Just how bad was that contamination??] Finally, Grupo agreed to fund a $100 million trust to help pay Asarco's $1 billion in environmental liabilities at the time. [Remember, there was a change-over from the Clinton Administration to the Bush Administration during this time, and that Carlyle Group now owns 20% of Grupo Mexico]
It was a good deal for Larrea. The Justice Department allowed Larrea to proceed with his sale of the lucrative Peruvian mines in exchange for paying one-tenth of Asarco's environmental cleanup costs...." [which came partially from the ASARCO company burning military wastes illegally along with whatever other unmanifested (i.e. "untracked") wastes were burned during the 1990's].
Have you had your Lead (Pb) Test today?
ASARCO's own Hydrometrics-report-map shows one place at the site where Lead is 19,000 milligrams of lead per kilogram of soil. Near the Historic Smelter cemetery the map shows Lead values that are over 12,000 milligrams of lead per kilogram of soil.
If 1000 milligrams of lead per kilogram of soil is "nearly three times the EPA standard" then what is 12,000 or 19,000?? How about-- 36 and 57 times the EPA standard for residential -- and this dust is picked up in every dust storm and distributed around the City...
And what about Polonium (Radioactive Lead?). It is *very* commonly found around smelters and we have never been told what its levels are, here.
Huffington Post | Stuart Whatley | April 10, 2009