EPA ASARCO Texas "Factsheet" Agreement is a SHAM and ignores the EPA confidential-for-settlement-purposes-only-document...

EPA ASARCO Texas "Factsheet" Agreement is a SHAM and ignores the EPA-Federal Dept. of Justice ASARCO confidential-for-settlement-purposes-only-document detailing how ASARCO purposefully incinerated unmanifested toxic-wastes for profit for years in El Paso TX and E. Helena MT.    It makes a person wonder why there is a Swiss Bank called "ASARCO" (Asarco SA, Asarco inc) run by a Bank-President who was gambling in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and offshore...

Google Web Alert

ASARCO Settlement Fact Sheet | Compliance and Enforcement | US EPA On August 9, 2005, ASARCO filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the United States ...

http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/cases/cleanup/cercla/asarco/texas-infosht.html

EPA ASARCO Texas "Factsheet" fails to mention the years of Sham Recycling (the illicit burning of secret hazardous-wastes for profit) -- that the Federal Dept. of Justice Bankruptcy Trustee failed to make the Asarco Bankruptcy court declare liabilities.  NO LIABILITIES FROM THE YEARS OF ILLEGAL SECRET TOXIC-WASTE BURNING WERE EVER CONSIDERED/DISCLOSED DURING THE ENTIRE ASARCO BANKRUPTCY COURT PROCEEDING --- OUR GOVERNMENT ACTED AS IF IT NEVER HAPPENED EVEN AFTER AN HONEST DOJ ATTORNEY MADE THE PUBLIC DISCLOSURE IN 2006 THAT THIS **DID** HAPPEN AND THAT FOR YEARS ASARCO MADE $$ WITH THE SECRET BURNING OF UNMANIFESTED HAZARDOUS-WASTES FROM BOTH MILITARY AND INDUSTRIAL SOURCES.   GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT WAS INCINERATED HERE AND IN E. HELENA MT. 

Not only that, but the Texas Agreement means that the EPA and TCEQ will never sue Asarco for hazardous wastes as a Civil Action in either El Paso or the Dona Ana County (Sunland Park) area:

"With respect to the El Paso Metals Site (including releases of hazardous substances from any portion of the El Paso Metals Site and all areas affected by natural migration of such substances from the El Paso Metals), the United States, on behalf of EPA, and the TCEQ further covenant not to sue or assert any civil claims or causes of action against Debtors,"
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/cases/cleanup/cercla/asarco/texas-infosht.html

"The Department of Justice and ASARCO filed the settlement agreement with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas Corpus Christi Division on March 13, 2009. The Court approved the settlement agreement on June 5, 2009. The trust agreement associated with this settlement was filed with the Bankruptcy Court on December 9, 2009."
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/cases/cleanup/cercla/asarco/texas-infosht.html

Incorporated herein by reference is a copy of an internal EPA memorandum dated June 28, 2001 [see Scribe link], which contains the following handwritten sentence:  "The TNRCC is concerned that the El Paso sampling plan doesn't undermine the ASARCO Corpus sampling delima (sic)."  An inescapable inference from this sentence is the    fact that ASARCO has compromised employees of both the EPA and TCEQ.   Both ASARCO and the regulators are concealing certain ASARCO contaminants from the residents of Corpus Christi and the Paso del Norte Region.  Every individual who either knows, or should know that ASARCO's contamination is being concealed is exposed to both criminal and civil liability.
 

"Washington receives payout for damages caused by ASARCO's past ..."

Tacoma WA etc. receive almost four times the amount of money that El Paso Texas will receive for clean-up.
Why won't people talk about the massive secret incineration of illegal hazardous wastes at El Paso and E. Helena Asarco sites that affected millions of people and several states and countries, and the sixth largest river system in the USA?   We are dying down here from rampant cancers while the USA and other Asarco sites turn a blind eye to the fraudulent Bankruptcy  -- or talk about the DOJ Trustee who failed to make the Court consider the secret toxic contamination from the years of illegal illicit hazardous waste burning.  God only knows what they burned down here.

google alert

Washington receives payout for damages caused by ASARCO's past ... "By Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal The state of Washington has received roughly $188 million to help repair environmental damage caused by mining giant ASARCO. It's the largest payout in th." MINING.com News - http://admin.news.mining.com/

"That Tap Water Is Legal but May Be Unhealthy",By CHARLES DUHIGG (and El Paso Alpha/Beta Radiative-Particles water data)

"That Tap Water Is Legal but May Be Unhealthy"

By CHARLES DUHIGG

"more than 62 million Americans have been exposed since 2004 to drinking water that did not meet at least one commonly used government health guideline intended to help protect people from cancer or serious disease, according to an analysis by The Times of more than 19 million drinking-water test results from the District of Columbia and the 45 states that made data available."

For more information on El Paso Water Utilities' water contaminant levels click on: TAP WATER DATABASE

For El Paso Water Utilities (westside):

ALPHA Radioactivity Level.
Although the Legal Limit of 15 (pCi/L) was not exceeded there was an actual measurement that appeared rather close: 13.1 pCi/L from March of 2004.

"2004-03-09	13.1 pCi/L	1	0	13.1 pCi/L"

However, anything over 0 pCi/L (zero) exceeds the suggested health limit by the EPA ("which allows an adequate margin of safety"). One Alpha Particle if inhaled or swallowed (ingested) is more toxic than arsenic. The particle may stay inside the body, and would damage the tissues around it with radiation.

"Contaminant	Average/ Maximum Result	Health Limit Exceeded	Legal Limit Exceeded

Alpha particle activityAlpha particles are a form of radiation released from mining waste pollutants and natural sources.

5.44 pCi/L 13.1 pCi/L

Yes MCLGA non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.: 0 pCi/L

No 15 pCi/L"

For Beta Radiation particles, the maximum level recorded in December 2005 was 18.1pCi/L which is above the legal standard of 15 pCi/L. Since the AVERAGE result (all the samples-data put together and averaged) was below 13 pCi/L the report for that period did not state that the legal limit was exceeded.

"Testing Date	Average Result	Samples taken that day	Number of Non-Detects	Range of Results
2005-12-07	12.85 pCi/L	2	0	7.6 to 18.1 pCi/L "

Native American Tribal government lands and Interior managed lands to get nearly 200 million from Asarco settlement

Google News Alert for: asarco bankruptcy

KVOA.com ASARCO Settlement Provides $194 Million for Federal, State and Tribal Wildlife ... KVOA.com Along with federal, state and tribal co-trustees, Interior brought claims at more than a dozen sites which were settled during the ASARCO bankruptcy. ... See all stories on this topic

"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today that an environmental damage settlement with ASARCO LLC, a North American mining conglomerate, would provide about $194 million for the recovery of wildlife, habitat and other natural resources managed by Interior, state, and tribal governments at more than a dozen sites around the nation."

Grupo Mexico's stock values begin rise

Google News Alert for: asarco bankruptcy

Mexico's Stocks Rise, Peso Weakens Early Thursday; IPC +0.7% Wall Street Journal MX) were trading 2% higher at MXN30.60 after the company said Wednesday night that its US subsidiary, Asarco, has exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. ... See all stories on this topic

ASARCO bankruptcy settlement brings millions to the great state of Montana, home of W.R.Grace Libby Disaster and E. Helena (also burned the secret illegal toxic wastes for years)

Google Alert
"ASARCO bankruptcy settlement brings millions to MT | MINING.com News
By Montana's News Station
Governor Brian Schweitzer has announced that Montana has received nearly $195 million to clean up ASARCO's contaminated sites in the state. "
MINING.com News - http://admin.news.mining.com/

TCEQ News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   CONTACT: LISA WHEELER

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2009  PHONE: 512-239-5003 / PAGER: 512-606-3681
TCEQ Commissioners Welcome New EPA Region 6 Administrator

EPA and TCEQ to discuss new public participation rules

  

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality commissioners today hosted recently appointed EPA Region 6 Administrator Dr. Alfredo “Al” Armendariz at the commission headquarters in Austin. The purpose of the visit was not only to welcome the new administrator to his new position but also to discuss the various rules regarding Texas’ successful air program. Yesterday, commissioners approved for publication a new rule package seeking to expand public participation in the state’s air permit process.

 

"Texas' air quality permitting program is already one of the most robust in the nation,” said Chairman Bryan W. Shaw, Ph.D.  “The TCEQ has taken proactive, aggressive measures to improve air quality in Texas. Air emissions and pollution concentrations in our state are at their lowest level in the past 20 years, while Texas continues to maintain a strong, growing economy.”

 

"I have always viewed public participation as a vital component in the permitting process," said Commissioner Buddy Garcia.  "I appreciate Dr. Armendariz spending time with each of us today, and I look forward to working with him to show the rest of the nation how Texas has been successful and will continue to lead on environmental issues.”  

 

“Texas already has a meaningful and engaging public participation process that directly impacts permits and provides significant environmental safeguards,” said Commissioner Carlos Rubinstein. “I welcome the rule changes that will provide even greater public participation and transparency.”

 

A public hearing to accept comment on the proposed rule revisions will take place January 25, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. in Building E, Room 201 S, at the TCEQ campus, 12100 Park 35 Circle, in Austin.   The comment period will end on February 16.

This service is provided to you at no charge by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Visit us on the web at www.tceq.state.tx.us.

GovDelivery, Inc. sending on behalf of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality · 12100 Park 35 Circle · Austin TX 78753 · 512-239-1000

Grupo Mexico: Asarco :: W.R. Grace : Libby Montana disaster

"PHOENIX (AP) -- Mexico City-based mining giant Grupo Mexico SAB has completed its [re-]acquisition of Tucson, Ariz.-based copper miner Asarco LLC.

The transaction Wednesday ended a years long battle waged by Grupo Mexico to reacquire the firm it first bought in 1999 but lost to bankruptcy in 2005 after Asarco was overwhelmed by huge environmental remediation costs." http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Grupo-Mexico-closes-deal-to-apf-372850306.html?x=0&.v=1

------------
"One thing that continues to puzzle some of my contacts in Justice and EPA headquarters is how and why Mercer and David Uhlmann, the then-chief of the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section, got away with pursuing criminal indictments [in 2005] against [W.R.] Grace [for the Libby Montana asbestos disaster]." [and LOST the court case]
http://andrewschneiderinvestigates.com/2009/04/26/the-district-court-website-for-judge-donald-molloys-own-domain-offers-link-and-info-on-filing-charges-of-judicial-misconduct-thank-you/

Asarco cleaned up Spic and Span when it should be the Federal DOJ that is getting cleaned-up

-- Asarco cleaned up Spic and Span with help from the Federal Department of Justice who failed to acknowledge a confidential-for-settlement-purposes-only  document that their fellow DOJ attorney released to a public information request, and that let us know the EPA had told the DOJ in 1998 Asarco had burned unmanifested/secret hazardous-wastes for profit, for years.   The Federal DOJ Bankruptcy trustee FAILED to make the Bankruptcy courts act on this evidence and failed to hold ASARCO accountable for the liabilities from this secret and toxic hazardous-wastes (both industrial and military origins).

What is our nation of laws coming to when huge corporations like ASARCO (its  parent company is partially owned by the Carlyle Group) are allowed to use our courts to "clean up" their financial image by ignoring basic facts which should have been considered in the bankruptcy-setting?

Everyday working people - the same taxpayers that bailed out the banks - are now in-effect bailing out ASARCO and its creditors because a few Government's employees allowed this company escape its culpability (as we speak, the Supreme Court has re-opened the ENRON case to reconsider the "honest services provision" of the mail and wire fraud act that holds such government employees accountable (why?)).

Google Blogs Alert for: asarco bankruptcy

RapidShare Introduces Americas Reseller Program By Rapidshare Ag November 24th, 2009 Exec says new Asarco to be profitable, competitivePHOENIX — A top executive with the company set to take over Asarco LLC says the Tucson-based copper miner will emerge from a grueling four-year bankruptcy court ... PR Hub - http://blog.taragana.com/pr/

Our UTEP students are still walking around exposed to these levels of Arsenic; and the new plan is to build a UTEP research park at Asarco's site

UTEP Campus along Sunbowl Drive and Paisano, showing levels of toxic metals detected by the EPA in 2004...
Red dots: Residential Properties that Exceed 46 ppm (As) and/or 500 ppm (Pb) (883)
Green dots: Residential Properties that are Equal to or Below 46 ppm (As) and/or 500 ppm (Pb) (1640)

from 2/2004 Sample Location Map El Paso County Metals Survey, El Paso, El Paso County, Texas [USEPA REGION 6 START-2]

At a recent TXDOT open-house Mr. Berry indicated that the I-10 & Schuster Interchange Project had found no problems (i.e. no toxic levels of anything). The area he was referring to is shown on this map as where RIM Road extends down to the end of Sunbowl Drive toward Paisano. He stated that UTEP was building that new [Nursing/Health Sciences] building right there, and said that surely there could be no problem if UTEP was building right there...

But, this EPA map shows that the area on Sunbowl Drive where that building has been placed is next to a sea of red dots -- indicating that the dirt was likely very toxic before UTEP started breaking ground.

The TXDOT project and the UTEP building are happening in the midst of this sea of red dots; and, the government is doing nothing.

Asarco AG Swiss Bank

Why is there a Swiss bank called "ASARCO AG" (Asarco SA, Asarco inc)??

The Republicans were right: Sen. Shapleigh wants to develop the Super Toxic Asarco Site

"Our community has a historic opportunity to redevelop one of the key sites in our community, the true Pass of the North," Shapleigh said.

In other communities, stadiums have been placed on Asarco riverfront properties, and in still others, research parks or other key installations have been placed.

"Due to the proximity to Mexico, the historic nature of Peace Park across the river, and the rail and access to UTEP, this site is very important to El Paso's future."
http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_13913153

    "Incorporated herein by reference is a copy of
    an internal EPA memorandum dated June 28, 2001, which contains the
    following handwritten sentence:  "The TNRCC is concerned that the
    El Paso sampling plan doesn't undermine the ASARCO Corpus sampling
    delima (sic)."  An inescapable inference from this sentence is the
    fact that ASARCO has compromised employees of both the EPA and
    TCEQ.   Both ASARCO and the regulators are concealing certain
    ASARCO contaminants from the residents of Corpus Christi and the
    Paso del Norte Region.  Every individual who either knows, or
    should know that ASARCO's contamination is being concealed is
    exposed to both criminal and civil liability"
 

TXDOT ignores the ASARCO illegal haz-waste and plans to build elevated toll road on PAISANO...

over the water supply and right next to the ASARCO stacks, in the worst
of the worst contamination

http://www.txdot.gov/public_involvement/town_hall_meetings/elpaso_town_hall.htm

Glencore International AG

"China's $200-billion sovereign wealth fund has added privately-held
commodities trader Glencore International AG to its roster of approved
investment partners"

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2009-09/19/content_8711325.htm

(do a search within this blog for "Glencore")

20090800 TCEQ Xenco lab report on ASARCO EL Paso water contamination levels

http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/assets/public/remediation/variousremediationsites/xenco_lab_report_aug2009.pdf
<cid:part1.09020306.06080606@gmail.com>

Asarco "cleaned up" and the Taxpayers "cleaned out"??

It is easy to run a profit when ignoring nearly ten years of contamination from illegal un-manifested hazardous-waste incineration without a license.

And why is there a Swiss Bank called "ASARCO AG" (Asarco SA, Asarco inc)?!

"According to The Wall Street Journal, Asarco now is flush with cash and reporting a total profit, after its bankruptcy filing, of $623.4 million. So in the end, the company is also succeeding.

"Whether this result was due to good stewardship, excellent management, higher copper prices, appropriate judicial oversight by the bankruptcy judge, extraordinary good luck, or a combination of all these factors may be debated," U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen wrote in his ruling of the case, "but the ultimate result is inarguable.""

http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_13876197

What can the Union leverage for Jobs? To stay Silent??

... no one is talking about the confidential hazardous wastes ASARCO incinerated secretly for nearly a decade!!   Will the United Steelworkers Union continue to NOT talk about the unmanifested-secret hazardous wastes illegally smelted by Asarco for nearly a decade?  Are jobs/contract more important?

"...Lazalde and Robert Moore, an attorney representing Grupo in Asarco's bankruptcy case, met with The Republic to discuss Grupo's plans for Asarco, how it is responding to worries from community members and the status of union negotiations.

High on its to-do list is addressing concerns of the United Steelworkers, which represents about 1,700 Asarco workers. Grupo has until Jan. 15 to present a comprehensive proposal to the union outlining what it would offer in a new contract.

The union's current contract expires in June. Grupo has offered to extend the contract for a year, but the union wants a three-year extension to 2013 similar to its negotiated deal with Sterlite."

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/articles/2009/11/29/20091129biz-grupo1129.html

Senator Shapleigh's pages on TCEQ in "Grover's Tub"

see:
http://shapleigh.org/news/3739-grover-s-tub-captured-and-corrupted-at-tceq

We agree with the observations about the TCEQ, but the pages (sent to constituents in an email) totally miss mentioning how the EPA proved Asarco secretly burned unknown (unmanifested!) hazardous-wastes for years, for profit, during the 1990's -- and that we only found out after the Federal DOJ made a 1998 confidential-Asarco-EPA-settlement document public in 2006 -- after EIGHT YEARS of silence and secrecy!!

We ask all of our political representatives/senators to let the community know what Asarco actually did here -- and, we want to know what chemicals have been left here from those years of illegal secret-wastes incineration.

The Asarco Workers Union asked to accept a short-term contract extension // The years of unmanifested secret toxic waste incineration - IGNORED

"The [ASARCO] company's Arizona and Texas mining and refining operations will finally be free from environmental liabilities that drove it into bankruptcy in 2005, said Jorge Lazalde, vice president and general counsel for Grupo Mexico subsidiary Asarco Inc. 

[CRIMINAL Disregard by the Government for the secret chemicals (from what the EPA said were military and industrial sources) secretly burned here for years.  WHERE is our Government/Justice?  Can criminals act this way so indiscriminately and get away with it?  Why is the Supreme Court going to review the honest services provision of the mail and wire fraud act this winter for the ENRON case (involving a principal bond holder ASARCO bank?).  WHY is there a SWISS Bank called ASARCO A.G. (Asarco SA, Asarco inc.)?

The EPA-Asarco-DOJ "confidential for settlement purposes only" document (NYTimes 10/06) telling us what really happened here -- IGNORED.   The secret toxic wastes from those years IGNORED.  The recommendation of the La Paz Accord JAC committee to test for these chemicals IGNORED.  The requests of the local community for split samples IGNORED.]

In an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday, Lazalde also said the company assumed a contract that makes its 1,500 unionized workers among the best-paid in the industry and has offered to extend the deal through 2011.....The company has until mid-January to provide a contract offer, and the union has until mid-February to accept the short-term contract extension."

http://www.montereyherald.com/business/ci_13858953?nclick_check=1

Exec says new Asarco to be profitable, competitive

... said without any regard for the contamination left here and in E. Helena MT from the years of what the EPA and Federal DOJ finally let us know were YEARS of secret & illegal toxic-waste burning.   Military and Industrial wastes -- incinerated without manifests here.    It is easy to be "profitable, competitive" when you don't pay to clean up the poisons left behind.   ASARCO will pay only  52 million dollars to "clean up" the Rio Grande, the Hueco Bolson, and sister cities of Cd. Juarez, El Paso and Sunland Park.

CRIMINAL

Google Blogs Alert for: asarco bankruptcy

Exec says new Asarco to be profitable, competitive (AP ... By admin A top executive with the company set to take over Asarco LLC says the Tucson-based copper miner will emerge from a grueling four-year bankruptcy court battle. eCommoditiesTrading - http://www.ecommoditiestrading.com/

What do ENRON and Asarco have in common?

Attorneys for the ENRON case are getting the Honest Services provision of the mail & wire fraud act re-visited by the U.S. Supreme Court -- to be decided this spring. 


September 21, 2002

Lawyer Proves a Thorn for Enron's Partners

By DAVID BARBOZA

"Citigroup [Asarco Principle Bondholder] and J. P. Morgan [Asarco had a "$450 million Revolving Credit Agreement with J.P. Morgan Chase & Co."] have been accused by members of Congress and a variety of lawyers of helping Enron disguise billions of dollars worth of debt by creating special-purpose entities offshore with names like Mahonia, which was based in the Isle of Jersey in the English Channel, and Delta, based in the Cayman Islands." [We know that there is a Swiss Bank called "Asarco A.G." (Asarco S.A., Asarco Inc.).]
http://www.alston.com/neal_batson/

"R. Neal Batson is special counsel to Alston & Bird.....was appointed by the United States Department of Justice to serve as the Examiner for Enron Corp. and was authorized to investigate various aspects of the company."

neal.batson@alston.com

[Fwd: TCEQ News Release--Trustee Named for ASARCO remediation]

-------- Original Message --------

Subject:	TCEQ News Release--Trustee Named for ASARCO remediation
Date:	Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:45:29 -0600 (CST)
From:	Texas Commission on Environmental Quality <tceq@service.govdelivery.com>

You are subscribed to News Releases for Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Or, see text below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                              
CONTACT: ANDREA MORROW
PHONE: 512-239-5011 / PAGER: 512-896-

TRUSTEE NAMED FOR ASARCO EL PASO REMEDIATION  
Project Navigator will manage clean-up

“I am pleased to announce the appointment of Project Navigator, represented by Roberto Puga, as the custodial trustee for remediation activities at the ASARCO–El Paso site,” said Mark Vickery, executive director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. “This highly respected and experienced firm will work with the TCEQ to advance toward closure of the site.”

On Nov. 13, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas in Corpus Christi issued an order confirming the plan of reorganization and implementing the settlement. 

On either Dec. 11 or 14, the effective date of the plan, ASARCO will place $52,080,000 in an environmental custodial trust to address remedial activities. Funds totaling $52 million will be used at the El Paso site and the remainder will fund clean up at another non-operating site in Amarillo. 

For the latest information on the clean-up plans and progress, see: http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/remediation/sites/asarco.html.

 

 

###

The ASARCO BANKRUPTCY COVER-UP IS COMPLETE??

"The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has named a trustee who will be in charge of cleaning up the ASARCO site...Mark Vickery, TCEQ's executive director, appointed Project Navigator, represented by Roberto Puga, as the trustee. ..In mid-December, ASARCO will put $52,080,000 in an environmental custodial trust to support the clean-up."
http://www.kvia.com/Global/story.asp?S=11560816

AND IN THIS ENTIRE PROCESS THE FEDERAL DEPT. OF JUSTICE, THE EPA, THE TCEQ, THE N.M. ENVIRONMENTAL DEPT. ---- NONE OF THEM HAVE DISCLOSED WHAT SECRET AND ILLEGAL HAZARDOUS WASTES REMAIN HERE FROM WHAT THE EPA SAID WAS ILLEGAL INCINERATION OF UNKNOWN TOXIC-WASTES FOR PROFIT (DURING THE ENTIRE 1990's).

A fraud of amazing proportions is occurring right before our eyes - and we would never have known what happened here if an honest Federal DOJ Attorney had not sent us (2006) the EPA-Asarco "confidential for settlement purposes only" 73 page document to the DOJ (1998) that finally gave us the truth.

But the DOJ, the Bankruptcy Trustee, the EPA, the NMED, and the TCEQ all are ignoring that document as if it was never made public and as if the contents were still secret.

WHAT happened here in El Paso during the secret incineration of military wastes that is SO BAD that none of these Government Agencies can be open and honest with us??!   It had to be very bad.

WHY is there a Swiss Bank named "ASARCO AG" created about the time that the smelter shut down?

HOW CAN OUR ENTIRE JUSTICE SYSTEM (THE BANKRUPTCY TRUSTEE AND THE COURTS), THE FEDERAL EPA, THE STATES OF NEW MEXICO AND TEXAS ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY DEPARTMENTS -- ALL FAIL TO DISCLOSE THE CONTAMINATION REMAINING FROM THESE YEARS OF ILLEGAL INCINERATION OF MILITARY AND INDUSTRIAL WASTES??!!??

WE DO NOT EVEN HAVE DIOXIN DATA FOR THE EL PASO ASARCO SMELTER.  NO DIOXIN DATA. NO URANIUM DATA.

IS THE U.S.A. JUSTICE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS SO CORRUPTED THAT WE CAN'T EVEN GET DIOXIN DATA BEFORE A PALTRY 52 MILLION DOLLARS IS "handed down" TO US TO CLEAN UP THE RIO GRANDE, AN INTERNATIONAL AQUIFER (the HUECO BOLSON), OUR CITIES AND OUR AIR??!!??

HOW COULD OUR GOVERNMENT HAVE SAT ON THIS FOR THREE YEARS AFTER THE TRUTH CAME OUT?  HOW MANY CHILDREN MUST BE BORN HERE WITH TERATOGENIC BIRTH DEFECTS BEFORE ANYTHING IS DONE TO DETERMINE WHAT HAS HAPPENED HERE??!!??

TX (statewide venue) "Environmental crimes prosecutor appointed"

"AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Sunday, November 22, 2009

Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg on Friday announced the appointment of the agency's first full-time environmental crimes prosecutor.... Patty Robertson.... will be based in Travis County but will prosecute cases throughout the state.

The Travis County District Attorney's Office has statewide venue on most environmental crimes under Texas law, officials said."

Businessman gets 5 years in Synagro case

http://www.freep.com/article/20091113/NEWS01/91113017/1320/Businessman-gets-5-years-in-Synagro-case
[reprinted under fair use]
 
 Nov. 13, 2009 | Updated: 5:07 p.m. Nov. 13, 2009
"Businessman gets 5 years in Synagro case
BY BEN SCHMITT AND JOE SWICKARD
 

FREE PRESS
 
 Detroit businessman Rayford Jackson, a key figure in the Synagro sludge-hauling scandal in Detroit, was sentenced this afternoon to the maximum prison sentence he could receive under his guilty plea -- five years.

 
 
Jackson, 44, had previously pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to commit bribery before U.S. District Judge Avern Cohn, who today rejected a request from Jackson’s lawyer that he be given only two years in prison.

Defense lawyer Richard Morgan said that Synagro “should be standing here, and they’re not.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Bullotta disputed defense claims that Jackson was somehow lured into the bribery scheme. “Nothing could be further from the truth,” he told the judge. He also challenged the claim that, for all its notoriety, the now-canceled Synagro contract with the city would have ultimately benefited Detroiters. “It was all about Rayford Jackson,” Bullotta said. "He stood to make millions.”

In dispensing the maximum sentence, Judge Cohn noted with displeasure the defendant’s refusal to acknowledge his wrongdoing, even after he admitted to his misdeeds. “Mr. Jackson has not displayed contrition and remorse and he has not apologized,” Cohn said.

But the judge added, Jackson, who has refused to cooperate with investigators in the ongoing probe, still has an opportunity to improve his fate. He instructed Jackson that if he decides to cooperate with the feds within the first year of his prison term, the length of his sentence could be revisited.

“There’s still an opportunity for you to express contrition and remorse in the form of cooperation,” he said.

Jackson, a flashy entrepreneur who traveled through Detroit political circles with an attractive young television anchorwoman on his arm, arrived in court this afternoon dapper – and silent – as ever. He wore a dark, double-breasted pinstriped suit and a black bowler with a jaunty feather, which he wore into the courtroom.

Bullotta said Jackson “and Jackson alone decided to bribe Monica Conyers,” the former Detroit city councilwoman who herself is awaiting sentencing in January for her role in the Synagro scandal.

Bullotta said the evidence showed Jackson was operating actively and independently because he did not tell disgraced Synagro official James Rosendall about bribing Conyers until after Jackson had done so. Jackson, the prosecutor said, operated out of “pure greed.”

Jackson is slated to report to prison on Jan. 15.

After the verdict, U.S. District Attorney Terrence Berg said, “I hope this will be a deterrent to anyone considering any type of similar conduct in the form of bribing public officials.”

After issuing the sentence, Cohn took time to commend the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s office and likened their efforts to Hercules, who in Greek mythology cleaned the stables of Augean stables full of thousands of cattle in a single day."

[Fwd: TCEQ ASARCO (El Paso) Update]

You are subscribed to receive updates from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regarding the ASARCO site in El Paso, TX. 
We have added the following comment to the ASARCO web page.
On June 5, 2009, the bankruptcy court approved the settlement agreement concerning the El Paso Smelter and the Amarillo Smelter Sites.  On November 13, 2009, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Corpus Christi Division, issued an order confirming the plan of reorganization put forth by Americas Mining Corporation, the parent corporation of the debtor.  This plan implements the settlement referenced above that places $52,080,000 in an environmental custodial trust to address remedial activities. 

This service is provided to you at no charge by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Visit us on the web at www.tceq.state.tx.us.

GovDelivery, Inc. sending on behalf of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality · 12100 Park 35 Circle · Austin TX 78753 · 512-239-1000

El Paso ASARCO illegally and secretly burned Toxic waste for years

"RCRA makes it a crime for a person to knowingly treat, store or dispose of hazardous waste without a permit. 42 U.S.C. § 6928(d)(2)."

So why isn't someone in Jail, after El Paso ASARCO (and E. Helena MT Asarco) illegally and secretly burned Toxic waste for years?

And, why is there a Swiss Bank named ASARCO A.G. (Asarco S.A., Asarco Inc.)??

Why won't the Federal DOJ Bankruptcy Trustee require that the Bankruptcy Court considers ALL liabilities for ASARCO -- i.e. the liabilities from years of secretly burning military and industrial toxic wastes for profit?

What in the heck is going on?

When EPA tries to do its job, it is labeled "Activist"

"Gov. Rick Perry, who appoints the state panel's three commissioners,
has called the EPA an activist agency that could derail Texas' economy."

Umm, you mean the plans for Grupo Mexico and Verde groups first planned
international city in the shadow of the Asarco El Paso stacks ---- in
the middle of this toxic disaster and the massive cancer-zone?

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/region/legislature/stories/2009/11/15/1115epa.html

Sham Recycling leads to Sham Asarco bankruptcy and sham decisions

• Why won't the Dept. of Justice Bankruptcy Trustee require that the Bankruptcy court consider the liabilities from the secret military and industrial wastes illegally burned at Asarco El Paso and E. Helena for many years?
• Isn't it illegal to not require full disclosure of the toxic wastes in the Asarco bankruptcy? 
  
• Why won't the news disclose how Carlyle Group owns 20% of Grupo Mexico?
• Why did the EPA report that the Beta Radiation levels in El Paso just before Asarco shut down were the highest in the USA?
  
• The shut down occurred soon after the TCEQ made an abrupt decision to not bring nuclear wastes to this region for disposal, after all.
  
• Why weren't we told the truth for eight years (from 1998 to 2006), and why are the government and attorneys acting as if that secret document is not now public??
  
• Why won't the government disclose what poisons are still here from those activities?
• Why does Grupo Mexico plan to bid on a Pacific coast seaport - to run it for 50 years and bring rail freight through a port of entry about only ten miles from the Asarco El Paso epicenter?  How could such construction and planning be done if the true extent of the toxic-waste contamination were exposed?
• What happened here?!?
  

Google News Alert for: asarco bankruptcy

Grupo Mexico Chairman Gets Long-Awaited Prize Wall Street Journal "A full payment is a rare species in bankruptcy," said Jack Kinzie of Baker Botts LLP, who had argued that Sterlite should take Asarco out of bankruptcy. ... See all stories on this topic

"Ten years after launching a hostile takeover of U.S. copper refiner Asarco LLC and four years after forcing it into Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Mexican billionaire Germán Larrea Mota-Velasco [AND CARLYLE GROUP - THEY OWN 20% of GRUPO MEXICO] finally has what he wanted: control of the copper giant free from the threat of environmental and asbestos litigation.

The Grupo Mexico SAB chairman also will rule over one of the world's largest copper producers in terms of known ore reserves, adding Asarco's mines to properties Mr. Larrea operates in Mexico and Peru."

Sham Recycling leads to Sham Bankruptcy

And still the Dept. of Justice Bankruptcy Trustee fails to make the Bankruptcy Court consider liabilities from the years of illegal secret military & industrial waste burning at Asarco El Paso and E. Helena MT.

Why?!




Google Web Alert for: Asarco

Grupo Mexico should control Asarco, judge rules Nov 14, 2009 ... Grupo Mexico should control Asarco, judge rules, A US District Court judge has ruled Grupo Mexico SAB should regain control of bankrupt ...

"A U.S. District Court judge has ruled Grupo Mexico SAB should regain control of bankrupt Tucson copper miner Asarco LLC.

The ruling, issued Friday night by Judge Andrew Hanen of the Southern District of Texas, comes after months of legal battles between Grupo, Asarco's estranged parent company, and competitor Sterlite Industries Ltd."

Scientists can find Water on the Moon but not ASARCO Toxic Waste in El Paso

It has been  three Years since the Federal Dept. of Justice made public an EPA/Asarco confidential settlement document detailing how Asarco (El Paso, TX and E. Helena MT) secretly burned military and industrial wastes for profit --- and, U.S.A. scientists cannot tell the community what poisons were left here.

Yet, scientists can track water down to the ATOM on the moon. 

"There is water on the Moon, scientists stated unequivocally on Friday...."The water findings came through an analysis of the slight shifts in color after the impact, showing telltale signs of water molecules that had absorbed specific wavelengths of light. “We got good fits,” Dr. Colaprete said. “It was a unique fit.” The scientists also saw colors of ultraviolet light associated with molecules of hydroxyl, consisting of one hydrogen and one oxygen, presumably water molecules that had been broken apart by the impact and then glowed like neon signs."
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/14/science/14moon.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print

El Paso ASARCO illegally and secretly burned Toxic waste for years

"RCRA makes it a crime for a person to knowingly treat, store or dispose of
hazardous waste without a permit. 42 U.S.C. § 6928(d)(2)."

So why isn't someone in Jail, after El Paso ASARCO (and E. Helena MT Asarco)  illegally and secretly burned Toxic waste for years?

And, why is there a Swiss Bank named ASARCO A.G. (Asarco S.A., Asarco Inc.)??

Why won't the Federal DOJ Bankruptcy Trustee require that the Bankruptcy Court considers ALL liabilities for ASARCO -- i.e. the liabilities from years of secretly burning military and industrial toxic wastes for profit?

What in the heck is going on?

Selenium groundwater data Asarco El Paso 8/09

[click on image to enlarge table]
taken from data at
http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/assets/public/remediation/variousremediationsites/split_sampling_results_by_tceq_aug2009.xls

Re: Is there selenium data for Asarco El Paso?

 

The sampling data is currently on the ASARCO web page.  The direct link to the sampling page is http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/remediation/sites/water.

 

Thanks

 

Lorinda D Gardner

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

El Paso Regional Director

lgardner@tceq.state.tx.us

915.834.4951

<<11/11/2009 2:06 PM >>>
Hi, Lorinda,
Please see the article below about selenium in E. Helena.  They also handled and burned the illegal and secret toxic wastes during the 1990's.

Is this data available on the recent disk you mentioned? 

I have not gotten a copy.

[name removed]

Google News Alert for: Asarco

Report: Arsenic in East Helena water came from soil, not smelter The Missoulian Asarco Environmental Manager Jon Nickel says the residential wells showed an average of 9.6 parts per billion of arsenic - just under federal drinking water ... See all stories on this topic

Our troops now protected against breathing toxic wastes from open burn pits

"Rep. Tim Bishop, Democrat of New York, and Rep. Carol Shea Porter, Democrat of New Hampshire....successfully lobbied for the inclusion of provisions to limit the use of these toxic pits in the National Defense Authorization Act, which the president will sign into law this afternoon. Under this new law,open-air burning of medical and hazardous waste will be prohibited except where the Defense secretary deems there is no alternative, the DOD must justify the use of burn pits to Congress, and it will develop a plan to eliminate the use of burn pits entirely."[http://www.shea-porter.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=380&Itemid=67]

Asarco-paid-contractor says that E. Helena Arsenic in the water doesn't come from Asarco...

What was that classic line in the Erin Brochovich movie?  When the housewife sits down with Erin, who had just told her the water-data-results?   The housewife looked confused and said something about how the company men had sat at her table and told her that her water was completely safe.... then, she looked out through her window at her children swimming in the pool and she ran crying out into the yard, yelling for her children to get out of the water.

"Iver Johnson, who is heading the onsite cleanup effort for the state Department of Environmental Quality, said nearly 30,000 tons of hazardous waste have been removed from the site this year."

Google News Alert for: Asarco

Report: Arsenic in East Helena water came from soil, not smelter The Missoulian Asarco Environmental Manager Jon Nickel says the residential wells showed an average of 9.6 parts per billion of arsenic - just under federal drinking water ... See all stories on this topic

TCEQ Permits may not comply with Federal Requirements....

"Until such time as the TCEQ adopts rules, submits them to the EPA for SIP review, and receives EPA SIP approval, any action taken on pending applications which are implicated in Federal Register notices may result in additional permitting requirements or enforcement in the future because of the uncertainty of EPA action on the proposed Federal Register disapproval notices. The TCEQ is working expeditiously to address the Federal Register notices to resolve federal enforceability concerns."

http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/permitting/air/announcements/20091109

E.Helena Air safe from ASARCO stack demolition? Have they DISCLOSED THE SECRET TOXIC WASTES THEN?!

Yeah, and the EPA etc. all said that ASARCO had not burned secret hazardous wastes -- and then in 2006 a DOJ attorney released a confidential-for-settlement-purposes-only EPA document about ASARCO... and, we found out from this document (it was SEALED FOR 8 YEARS) that the EPA and DOJ had known ALL THAT TIME that Asarco El Paso and E. Helena MT had burned illegal and secret toxic wastes for profit for years...

Google News Alert for: Asarco

KFBB NewsChannel 5 Air Quality Report from ASARCO Smokestack Demolition Revealed KFBB NewsChannel 5 By KFBB News Team It has been nearly three months since three ASARCO smokestacks were demolished in East Helena, and now results of an air quality report ... See all stories on this topic

Why aren't the TCEQ and EPA letting El Pasoans know about the MERCURY levels around the ASARCO plant?

Asarco Tacoma stack contaminated a hundred square miles...

and the Asarco East Helena stacks?  "The EPA said tests showed that an area of about 100 square miles had been affected to some degree by Asarco emissions." 
http://www.helenair.com/news/article_782a2871-8aa9-56d9-9752-0664afd8c9d5.html

So doesn't this suggest that the Asarco El Paso smelter likely has affected 100 square miles, too?  That would be any land (and water) 30 miles out from the Asarco site -- almost clear up to Las Cruces, and definitely throughout Santa Teresa.

So why aren't our environmental regulatory agencies telling us about this in El Paso and Sunland Park?  (TCEQ, NMED and the Federal EPA)?

Dept. of Health and Human Services

The ATSDR is the "Dept. of Health and Human Services". Umm. Isn't
this the agency that we have evidence covered up the Asarco
contamination in Sunland Park N.M., and that was recently investigated
by a Federal investigative committee for fraud?

DEQ confirms that East Helena MT ASARCO stack demolition was "safe" (E. Helena burned unmanifested toxic wastes, too)

The way that authorities are getting around the safety issue is to NOT LOOK for the unmanifested toxic wastes that both Asarco El Paso and Asarco E. Helena handled and burned (nearly ten years of the incineration).

So, how much credibility does this safety assurance have with the public now?  None.   The conflicts of interest preventing full disclosure are so common that to this day we do not have Dioxin data, PCB data, mercury data, polonium data, or uranium data for the El Paso Asarco stack area --- and, to this day no citizen group has been given split samples/funds to take these samples to a non-conflicted scientist/lab.

Google News Alert for: Asarco

DEQ confirms demolition of East Helena stacks done safely Great Falls Tribune By Tribune Staff • November 7, 2009 Air sampling tests show that the demolition of three smelter stacks at the ASARCO smelter in East Helena in August did ... See all stories on this topic

"Air sampling tests show that the demolition of three smelter stacks at the ASARCO smelter in East Helena in August did not produce negative health effects, the state Department of Environmental Quality said Friday....The DEQ asked the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency to review the air quality samples for potential impacts to public health.  Exposure to chemical contaminants identified in the sample would not be expected to result in acute health outcomes because of the low concentrations of chemicals in the plume and the short duration of inhalation exposure, the agency's Dan Strausbaugh and Dr. Michelle Watters said...." [the news report did not give any chemical name(s) or amounts.]

Dr. Al Armendariz named Region 6 Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

"November 5, 2009 by citizensarah

Environmental Groups Applaud EPA Choice

New Regional Administrator could signal change in direction for polluted state

DALLAS – Environmental advocates across several states are applauding the Obama Administration’s choice of Dr. Al Armendariz to lead Region 6 of the Environmental Protection Agency, which includes Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Armendariz, an engineering professor at Southern Methodist University, has worked with diverse constituencies ranging from corporations to citizens groups and has published dozens of studies on myriad environmental issues throughout his career. His appointment garnered high praise from the environmental community."
http://texasvox.org/2009/11/05/dr-al-armendariz-named-region-6-administrator-of-the-environmental-protection-agency/

Asarco Swiss Bank

Why is there a Swiss Bank called Asarco A.G. (Asarco SA, Asarco Inc.)??

Asarco makes enough money in just TWO WEEKS to cover its 52 million commitment to El Paso for 110 years of contamination

... not to mention the nearly ten years of secret illegal toxic-waste burning.... (which the bankruptcy and our EPA/TCEQ continue to ignore.   Theft of honest Services.)

Google Blogs Alert for: Asarco

Asarco revenue hit $96.4 million in September
By Andrew Johnson
Asarco revenue hit $96.4 million in September, Since filing for reorganization under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2005, Asarco has made $5.6 billion in sales, according to the company's latest financial report.

China CIC signs MOU with Glencore (August 2009)

"A manager at a trading and investment firm in Asia, which is a client of Glencore, said top management from Glencore visited CIC in Beijing in August [2009] and signed a memorandum of understanding in which CIC agreed to invest in Glencore’s products or bonds....It was not immediately clear how CIC would work with Glencore, the world’s biggest commodities trader, which typically trades its own book. But Glencore also has a derivatives trading venture with Credit Suisse, which has an expanding business offering commodity investment products to customers....(Note: According to the Financial Times, Glencore owns the Moreno Group, one of Argentina’s key soybean companies, and farms more than 300,000 hectares of leased or owned farmland from Australia to Paraguay.)"

http://farmlandgrab.org/7717

Bankruptcy Court still refusing to reveal liabilities from years of ASARCO secret toxic waste burning in El Paso TX and E. Helena MT

Why the cover-up of Asarco's years of deliberate and secret military and industrial waste incineration?  Why does this still continue!?  ("Asarco paid out millions of dollars on the condition that details of its activities would not be released to the public." - comment from Chair of the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Reyes)

"Battle for Asarco to face key test in Texas court

Mon Oct 19, 2009 9:28am IST 

* 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

Supreme Court to review Honest Services Law with ENRON case (opinion due in spring)

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&sid=awIvclWIyuF4#

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?

Asarco Buchan Canada: URANIUM values exceeded health guidelines

Google News Alert for: Asarco

Testing continues
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

Sb:  updates from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regarding the ASARCO site in El Paso, TX. 

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

Why is there a SWISS BANK called ASARCO A.G. (Asarco S.A., Asarco Inc.)??

"gambling debts in Bahamas, Las Vegas, Atlantic City"

"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

Former construction mgr for Hueco Bolson toxic-waste removal plant (i.e. "Desal Plant") now slated to be IBWC commissioner

How long will the El Paso community tolerate the continued cover-up of Asarco's chemical contamination from its citizens?

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

The key-maquiladora FOXCON, anchoring the planned-city being built within the ASARCO El Paso "zone-of-contamination", manufactures the 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

History : ASARCO on the island of Newfoundland

Google News Alert for: Asarco

Globe and Mail The mining town where poisoned soil is 'a part of life' 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 –"

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.

Massive secret ASARCO contamination epicenter is less than 15 miles from the SANTA TERESA FOREIGN TRADE ZONE

NMEDD was notified of the ASARCO secret toxic waste problem in 2006 when Gov. Richardson and the NMEDD rep. came to Sunland Park, N.M.  -- now, EPA is considering making NMED's Ron Curry head of the EPA region (TX, NM, OK) even though Curry also is ignoring the contamination.   How irresponsible can our government get?   Our lives along the border count as much as any in Northern New Mexico....

"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)

"Foxconn to Create 30,000 Jobs in Chihuahua Mexico

Monday, July 21, 2008 | New Mexico Office of the Governor

---

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

PM 2.5's (ASARCO EL PASO was the singlemost point source in the region) circle the globe

http://www.the-scientist.com/templates/trackable/display/news.jsp?type=news&o_url=news/display/56026&id=56026

Paso del Norte children should count as much as Tacoma WA children

Old Anapra Mexico schools and daycares, and El Paso schools and daycares are forgotten -- Asarco's Tacoma example shows that Asarco El Paso TX is being short-changed, ignored and sacrificed.

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.)

TCEQ Commissioner tries to pull the wool over a resident's eyes about the ASARCO haz-waste burning.

Talked with a new TCEQ Commissioner friday.  He approached me after a speech he'd given, at a break, to say that we were "trying to prove a negative" by saying that the years of ASARCO illegal secret toxic waste burning left terrible poisons here in the Paso del Norte region.    He said that maybe there wasn't anything bad left here. 

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?