TCEQ General Counsel for Commission moves deadline back for decision on Motion to overturn Asarco Stormwater Permit

The TCEQ General Counsel for Commission moved the deadline back for
decision on Motion to Overturn (MTO) Asarco Stormwater Permit to the end
of September (90 days from when the permit was mailed). Legally the
Commission does not have to act on the MTO.

UTAH Miners - three rescuers die in attempt to reach the trapped miners

"Future of Utah mine rescue effort uncertain after cave-in kills 3; miners' fate unknown (7:06 a.m.)

By The Associated Press

Article Launched: 08/17/2007 07:10:26 AM MDT

By The Associated Press

HUNTINGTON, Utah — The search for six miners missing deep underground was abruptly halted after a second cave-in killed three rescue workers and injured at least six others who were trying to tunnel through rubble to reach them.

It was a devastating turn for the families of the six men trapped in the Aug. 6 collapse at the Crandall Canyon mine and for the relatives of those trying to rescue them. It's not known if the trapped miners are alive...."
http://www.lcsun-news.com/latest/ci_6648396

THE ASARCO COVER-UP CONTINUES.....

Asarco begins cleanup in Anapra (4:30 p.m.)
Sun News Report
Las Cruces Sun-News
http://www.lcsun-news.com/latest/ci_6641360

ANAPRA, N.M. (AP) — A copper company has begun cleaning up lead and arsenic contamination in the soil around the community of Anapra on the New Mexico-Texas border at the request of the state Environmental Department.

The department said soil was contaminated by the Asarco copper smelter mill in nearby El Paso, Texas.

The $200,000 project, expected to be completed by the end of August, involves removing up to two feet of contaminated soils from yards, backfilling the yards with clean dirt, then landscaping.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is overseeing the cleanup, and the state agency has asked that contaminated soil be taken to an El Paso landfill [Clint Landfill] instead of at the Camino Real landfill in New Mexico.....

new Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility at Alamogordo

Domenici to Help Commission Tularosa Desalination Facility

from the Office of Senator Pete V. Domenici

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Pete Domenici today announced that he will join Bureau of Reclamation officials in hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony and tour of the new Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility at Alamogordo later this week......
http://domenici.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=280823

Rep. Reyes to speak Saturday Morning Aug. 18 (will take questions)

"Channel 15 Time Warner Cable Sundays at 7PM also available at http://www.elpasotimes.com/election "...

....  "U.S. Representative Silvestre Reyes will be our guest speaker this Saturday.  He will speak concerning the Border Security Conference....  Forums are every Saturday from 8-9am at the Pearson Law Firm 214 W Franklin.  (across from City Hall)  They are free and open to the public and media....  joe oliva"

City of El Paso moves environmental monitoring to Dept. managing Dumps

On Monday, August 13, 2007, in a special meeting at the County Courthouse, the City and County voted to turn Health services over to the City and to have the City move the Environmental monitoring from Health Services to the Dept. that handles the City Dump. 

Cities who have MD's/Health Dept. covering environmental monitoring (instead of the SOLID WASTE managers handling it):
Dallas
New York City
LA (a whole separate environmental monitoring division) solid waste reports TO the EMD in L.A...
Houston
Norfolk VA
Albuquerque