"In 1997, US-based SureBlock entered a joint venture with China's Tianjin People's Building Material Products Factory to make concrete masonry units (CMUs). Commonly known as concrete blocks....
"The ongoing challenge is to develop a [China] market for products for which there are no industry standards or construction codes. "This hinders sales until codes can be written," Crowley said....We often reprocess raw materials because of contamination."
http://www.munsonmachinery.com/CaseHistories/article.asp?ArtID=704
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Wal-Mart citing green reasons for requiring fly-ash in its concrete flooring
"Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has changed their construction specifications to require all interior steel-troweled concrete floors placed at Wal-Mart Stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets, Sam's Clubs, and Distribution Centers to contain 15% to 20% fly ash by cement substitution."
,
Fly ash is the residue left from incineration of various materials and can contain extremely hazardous chemicals. As methods for disposing of this toxic material at a low cost are few, many industries have looked to road building and building materials as means to dispose of this stuff cheaply. However, it remains controversial how safe these disposal methods are, because the chemicals are not permanently sealed within the concrete forever and ever.
Wal-Mart is the company that originally purchased around 300 acres of land at the N.Mesa-Executive Drive El Paso TX corner in 2005 from a realty-intermediary. Now development has begun on that site (less than one mile from the Asarco epi-center) to cluster high-density ("Smart code" i.e. "walkable" ) neighborhoods on that land, which is subjected to Asarco fugitive dusts and 100 years of chemical-deposition from the Asarco smelter emissions...
http://www.concreteconstruction.net/concrete-construction/adding-fly-ash-to-concrete-mixes-for-floor-constr.aspx
,
Fly ash is the residue left from incineration of various materials and can contain extremely hazardous chemicals. As methods for disposing of this toxic material at a low cost are few, many industries have looked to road building and building materials as means to dispose of this stuff cheaply. However, it remains controversial how safe these disposal methods are, because the chemicals are not permanently sealed within the concrete forever and ever.
Wal-Mart is the company that originally purchased around 300 acres of land at the N.Mesa-Executive Drive El Paso TX corner in 2005 from a realty-intermediary. Now development has begun on that site (less than one mile from the Asarco epi-center) to cluster high-density ("Smart code" i.e. "walkable" ) neighborhoods on that land, which is subjected to Asarco fugitive dusts and 100 years of chemical-deposition from the Asarco smelter emissions...
http://www.concreteconstruction.net/concrete-construction/adding-fly-ash-to-concrete-mixes-for-floor-constr.aspx
Foxconn Chair says that he wants to find out how the Taipei zoo manages animals because managing over one million human-animals gives him a headache
Foxconn is the main anchor industry at the Santa Teresa Port of Entry along the New Mexico- Mexico border within ten miles of the Asarco "epicenter"...
" 'Hon Hai (i.e. Foxconn) has a workforce of over one million worldwide and as human beings are also animals, to manage one million animals gives me a headache,' said Hon Hai chairman Terry Gou at a recent year-end party, adding that he wants to learn from Chin Shih-chien, director of Taipei Zoo, regarding how animals should be managed..."
http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20120119000111&cid=1102
FoxConn V.P. Latin America was heard at Sunland Park Racetrack annual Nafta business meeting several years ago telling the audience that "Foxconn keeps the employees in dorms they are easier to control".... since that date Foxconn/Hon Hai has made international news because its employees were jumping out of the windows in suicidal leaps, requiring that the company install nets below to prevent more deaths. Hon Hai has since raised the salary levels.
" 'Hon Hai (i.e. Foxconn) has a workforce of over one million worldwide and as human beings are also animals, to manage one million animals gives me a headache,' said Hon Hai chairman Terry Gou at a recent year-end party, adding that he wants to learn from Chin Shih-chien, director of Taipei Zoo, regarding how animals should be managed..."
http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20120119000111&cid=1102
FoxConn V.P. Latin America was heard at Sunland Park Racetrack annual Nafta business meeting several years ago telling the audience that "Foxconn keeps the employees in dorms they are easier to control".... since that date Foxconn/Hon Hai has made international news because its employees were jumping out of the windows in suicidal leaps, requiring that the company install nets below to prevent more deaths. Hon Hai has since raised the salary levels.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Press Release "Santa Fe Gold Announces 2012 Smelter Contracts for Gold and Silver Sales Valued up to $30 Million"
"press release
Jan. 24, 2012, 8:30 a.m. EST
Santa Fe Gold Announces 2012 Smelter Contracts for Gold and Silver Sales Valued up to $30 Million
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Jan 24, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Santa Fe Gold Corporation /quotes/zigman/480818 SFEG +7.14% is pleased to announce it has entered into contracts with three smelters to sell a majority of its anticipated 2012 production of high-value precious metals concentrate and siliceous flux material. The three smelters include Aurubis AG in Germany, and Freeport -- McMoRan Miami Inc. and ASARCO LLC in Arizona. The 2012 contracts are valued in the aggregate up to $30 million at current gold and silver prices. Santa Fe's Lordsburg flotation mill produces gold and silver concentrate from its Summit mine located in southwest New Mexico. The company also produces silica flux material, the sale of which involves direct shipment of ore with only minimal processing required.
"We are pleased to have reached agreements for sales of a majority of our 2012 concentrates and silica flux," said Pierce Carson, President and Chief Executive Officer. "The contract with Aurubis provides for deliveries of up to 360 tons of concentrate, and the contracts with FMI Miami and Asarco provide for a total of up to 48,000 tons of silica flux. These contracts reflect a realization of our marketing strategy of developing multiple customer outlets and multiple revenue streams."
Dr. Carson continued, "Sales of flux to FMI Miami and Asarco are significant to Santa Fe and could account for a substantial portion of ore mined at Summit. Smelter flux sales also add another dimension to our strategy of expanding Santa Fe's production profile by processing other ores from the Lordsburg area, utilizing our excess milling capacity. Among other potential advantages, material sold as smelter flux does not have to be milled and therefore frees even more capacity at our Lordsburg mill."
The Summit mine is expected to reach full, steady production during the first quarter of calendar 2012. Revenues are expected to increase significantly over the course of 2012 reflecting increases in both tonnage and grades. Annual life of mine revenue at full production is estimated to be approximately $40 million at recent gold and silver prices. Ore reserves are estimated to average 0.143 ounces per ton gold and 10.78 ounces per ton silver (0.35 ounces per ton gold equivalent). Direct operating costs are projected to be $364 per ounce of gold equivalent produced over the life of the mine.
About Santa Fe Gold: Santa Fe Gold is a U.S.-based mining and exploration enterprise focused on acquiring and developing gold, silver, copper and industrial mineral properties. Santa Fe controls: (i) the Summit mine and Lordsburg mill in southwestern New Mexico, which began processing operations in 2010; (ii) a substantial land position near the Lordsburg mill, comprising the core of the Lordsburg Mining District; (iii) the Ortiz gold property in north-central New Mexico; (iv) the Black Canyon mica deposit and processing equipment near Phoenix, Arizona; and (v) a deposit of micaceous iron oxide (MIO) in western Arizona. Santa Fe Gold intends to build a portfolio of high-quality, diversified mineral assets with an emphasis on precious metals.
To learn more about Santa Fe Gold, visit www.santafegoldcorp.com ."
also see
" Santa Fe Gold Announces 2012 Smelter Contracts for Gold and Silver ...
MarketWatch
The three smelters include Aurubis AG in Germany, and Freeport -- McMoRan Miami Inc. and ASARCO LLC in Arizona. The 2012 contracts are valued in the ..."
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Community Pleads with El Paso Asarco Trust to protect the children; Trust replied with stock answer
"Leave a response - Recasting the Smelter | Former ASARCO ...
I plead with you, to examine your conscience, your faith and values as a human- being: do not let children grow up on the old Asarco site. Tell the community the ...
www.recastingthesmelter.com/?p=2515
"
I plead with you, to examine your conscience, your faith and values as a human- being: do not let children grow up on the old Asarco site. Tell the community the ...
www.recastingthesmelter.com/?p=2515
"
Sunday, January 8, 2012
The Irony of it
Now, in 2012, Sec. Salazar came to El Paso Texas to look at the El Paso Desalination plant -- without any mention that Asarco El Paso has contaminated our surface drinking water supply and all of our irrigation district waters. Will El Paso TX get any of the over 190 million dollars (below) to remediate the old American Canal and clean the Asarco-chemical-plume that reaches the Rio Grand? No. The Asarco Bankruptcy, the Department of the Interior and other Governmental Agencies have acted as if the Asarco burning of illegal secret hazardous wastes from 1991 to 1998 never happened.
"December 10, 2009
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.
“Through this historic settlement, the American public is compensated for the damage and loss of natural resources resulting from ASARCO’s past mining, smelting and refining operations,” Secretary Salazar said. “Were it not for this agreement, these injured resources would either remain impaired for future generations or require taxpayer expenditures to achieve environmental restoration.”
“This is a milestone not only for the Federal Government but also for Interior and its Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Program,” Salazar said. “It exemplifies government working effectively for the American taxpayer to recover damages from polluters and restore and protect significant national landscapes and wildlife resources that have been injured.”
Assistant Secretary for Fish Wildlife and Parks Tom Strickland called the settlement the type of environmental enforcement action that ensures that those responsible for polluting the nation’s landscapes and waterways are made to pay for their actions. “I want to commend the extraordinary level and amount of federal, state and tribal cooperation and coordination that accomplished this settlement,” Strickland said.
He also thanked representatives on the case teams that developed the claims, including Interior personnel from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, other federal agencies and state and tribal governments for their professionalism and dedication. “The settlement demonstrates the ability of Interior’s bureaus and offices to work cooperatively and productively on behalf of the public – and especially the taxpayers – to achieve major benefits for the environment.”
The Southeast Missouri Lead Mining District spans multiple counties from 40 to 90 miles south southwest of St. Louis, Missouri and is located in the Big River/Meramec River, Black River, and St Francois River watersheds. It is one of the largest lead producing regions of the world. Natural resources affected by mining-related contamination include surface water, groundwater, fish, migratory birds, endangered species of fresh-water mussels and their supporting ecosystems, including sediment and floodplain areas. Lead mining continues in the New Lead Belt, also called the Viburnum Trend, and the region continues to be the nation’s top lead producer.
Heavy-metal mine, mill, and smelter wastes from Asarco’s operations covers thousands of acres of land in St. Francois, Madison, Iron, and Reynolds counties. Two National Priority List Superfund sites and an active mining and processing district are contained within the Southeast Missouri Lead Mining District affected by Asarco. Runoff from these operations has contributed to contamination of sediment in over 100 miles of streams including Flat River Creek, Big River, Adair Creek, Logan Creek, Sweetwater Creek, West Fork of the Black River, Logtown Branch, Little St. Francois River, and Big Creek. Interior and the State of Missouri jointly received $41.2 million for natural resource damages at five sites in the District. Interior received approximately $274,000 to reimburse past assessment costs.
The Tri-State Mining District spans 2,500 square miles, including parts of southeast Kansas, southwest Missouri and northeast Oklahoma. The District is located in the Spring River and Neosho River watersheds, both of which flow generally south, terminating in the headwaters of Grand Lake O’ the Cherokee. Natural resources affected by mining-related contamination include surface water, fish, migratory birds, freshwater mussels and threatened and endangered species and their supporting habitat, such as sediments. Interior, the states of Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma and six American Indian tribes jointly received $62.4 million for natural resource damages in the District. Interior received $2.3 million to reimburse past assessment costs.
Trustees for natural resources affected by mining operations in the Tri-State Mining District include two Interior Department bureaus - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the states of Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, and several tribes: Cherokee Nation; Eastern Shawnee Tribe; Ottawa Tribe; Peoria Tribe; Seneca-Cayuga Tribe; and Wyandotte Nation. The Trustees for each site have completed or are now drafting plans to restore injured natural resources.
In Missouri, ASARCO conducted operations in Jasper and Newton counties. Mining and milling operations generated about 150 million short tons of waste scattered over 7,500 acres in Jasper County, affecting waterways such as Center Creek, Turkey Creek, Short Creek and their tributaries. Similar conditions occurred in Newton County, affecting Shoal Creek and its tributaries, and Lost, Sycamore, and upper Center creeks. The Interior Department and the State of Missouri will receive $20.1 million for Jasper and Newton counties. The Trustees for these sites are developing a draft restoration plan and anticipate releasing the draft for public review and comment in spring 2010.
The Tri-State Mining area is a mix of tallgrass prairie and hardwood forests. Commercial mining began in about 1848 in Missouri and moved westward into Kansas and southward into Oklahoma. Commercial smelters occurred in all three states within Tri-State. Historically, lead was the ore of primary interest; however, the ore was rich in zinc deposits, and zinc production became increasingly important over time. The Jasper County site was designated a Superfund site in 1990; the Newton County site was added in 2003.
Funds will be deposited into Interior’s Natural Resource Damage Assessment and
Restoration Fund and will be used to restore, rehabilitate, replace, and/or acquire the
equivalent of the injured natural resources managed by Interior and jointly managed with
state and tribal agencies. The majority of this amount is a joint claim with federal, state,
and tribal co-trustees, depending on the site.
For more information on the ASARCO settlement in Missouri, visit www.fws.gov/midwest/nrda/index.html
"
"December 10, 2009
Contact:
Georgia Parham 812-334-4261 x 1-203
ASARCO Settlement Provides $194 Million for Federal, State and Tribal Wildlife and Habitat Resource Restoration
Agreement includes Southeast Missouri Lead Mining District and Tri-State Mining District in southwest Missouri, Kansas and OklahomaSecretary 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.
“Through this historic settlement, the American public is compensated for the damage and loss of natural resources resulting from ASARCO’s past mining, smelting and refining operations,” Secretary Salazar said. “Were it not for this agreement, these injured resources would either remain impaired for future generations or require taxpayer expenditures to achieve environmental restoration.”
“This is a milestone not only for the Federal Government but also for Interior and its Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Program,” Salazar said. “It exemplifies government working effectively for the American taxpayer to recover damages from polluters and restore and protect significant national landscapes and wildlife resources that have been injured.”
Assistant Secretary for Fish Wildlife and Parks Tom Strickland called the settlement the type of environmental enforcement action that ensures that those responsible for polluting the nation’s landscapes and waterways are made to pay for their actions. “I want to commend the extraordinary level and amount of federal, state and tribal cooperation and coordination that accomplished this settlement,” Strickland said.
He also thanked representatives on the case teams that developed the claims, including Interior personnel from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, other federal agencies and state and tribal governments for their professionalism and dedication. “The settlement demonstrates the ability of Interior’s bureaus and offices to work cooperatively and productively on behalf of the public – and especially the taxpayers – to achieve major benefits for the environment.”
The Southeast Missouri Lead Mining District spans multiple counties from 40 to 90 miles south southwest of St. Louis, Missouri and is located in the Big River/Meramec River, Black River, and St Francois River watersheds. It is one of the largest lead producing regions of the world. Natural resources affected by mining-related contamination include surface water, groundwater, fish, migratory birds, endangered species of fresh-water mussels and their supporting ecosystems, including sediment and floodplain areas. Lead mining continues in the New Lead Belt, also called the Viburnum Trend, and the region continues to be the nation’s top lead producer.
Heavy-metal mine, mill, and smelter wastes from Asarco’s operations covers thousands of acres of land in St. Francois, Madison, Iron, and Reynolds counties. Two National Priority List Superfund sites and an active mining and processing district are contained within the Southeast Missouri Lead Mining District affected by Asarco. Runoff from these operations has contributed to contamination of sediment in over 100 miles of streams including Flat River Creek, Big River, Adair Creek, Logan Creek, Sweetwater Creek, West Fork of the Black River, Logtown Branch, Little St. Francois River, and Big Creek. Interior and the State of Missouri jointly received $41.2 million for natural resource damages at five sites in the District. Interior received approximately $274,000 to reimburse past assessment costs.
The Tri-State Mining District spans 2,500 square miles, including parts of southeast Kansas, southwest Missouri and northeast Oklahoma. The District is located in the Spring River and Neosho River watersheds, both of which flow generally south, terminating in the headwaters of Grand Lake O’ the Cherokee. Natural resources affected by mining-related contamination include surface water, fish, migratory birds, freshwater mussels and threatened and endangered species and their supporting habitat, such as sediments. Interior, the states of Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma and six American Indian tribes jointly received $62.4 million for natural resource damages in the District. Interior received $2.3 million to reimburse past assessment costs.
Trustees for natural resources affected by mining operations in the Tri-State Mining District include two Interior Department bureaus - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the states of Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, and several tribes: Cherokee Nation; Eastern Shawnee Tribe; Ottawa Tribe; Peoria Tribe; Seneca-Cayuga Tribe; and Wyandotte Nation. The Trustees for each site have completed or are now drafting plans to restore injured natural resources.
In Missouri, ASARCO conducted operations in Jasper and Newton counties. Mining and milling operations generated about 150 million short tons of waste scattered over 7,500 acres in Jasper County, affecting waterways such as Center Creek, Turkey Creek, Short Creek and their tributaries. Similar conditions occurred in Newton County, affecting Shoal Creek and its tributaries, and Lost, Sycamore, and upper Center creeks. The Interior Department and the State of Missouri will receive $20.1 million for Jasper and Newton counties. The Trustees for these sites are developing a draft restoration plan and anticipate releasing the draft for public review and comment in spring 2010.
The Tri-State Mining area is a mix of tallgrass prairie and hardwood forests. Commercial mining began in about 1848 in Missouri and moved westward into Kansas and southward into Oklahoma. Commercial smelters occurred in all three states within Tri-State. Historically, lead was the ore of primary interest; however, the ore was rich in zinc deposits, and zinc production became increasingly important over time. The Jasper County site was designated a Superfund site in 1990; the Newton County site was added in 2003.
Funds will be deposited into Interior’s Natural Resource Damage Assessment and
Restoration Fund and will be used to restore, rehabilitate, replace, and/or acquire the
equivalent of the injured natural resources managed by Interior and jointly managed with
state and tribal agencies. The majority of this amount is a joint claim with federal, state,
and tribal co-trustees, depending on the site.
For more information on the ASARCO settlement in Missouri, visit www.fws.gov/midwest/nrda/index.html
"
Sept. 2011 El Paso Mayor border affairs refers to Punto Colonet and Ferromex Santa Teresa Port of Entry Plan
"Calderón's capital projects plan includes the proposed rail bypass that would connect rail service in Juárez from San Jeronimo-Santa Teresa to the Guadalupe-Tornillo border crossings......"Mayors John Cook and Jose Reyes Ferriz of El Paso and Juárez are unhappy with the proposal, which they believe will disrupt vehicular traffic in Juárez during several years of construction, lead to an increase flow of dangerous cargo through heavily populated neighborhoods and undercut efforts to move cross-border rail traffic to a new port of entry at Santa Teresa, New Mexico," a 2008 cable said.....Robert Andrade, Cook's border affairs aide, said Calderón wanted the Santa Teresa rail bypass and rail border crossing because it is part of a plan for a new major seaport at Punto Colonet in Baja California, a project that is still pending."from: "WikiLeaks cable: El Paso, Juárez mayors didn't like rail project"
Posted: 09/08/2011
Foxconn expands to Brazil...proximity to airfields a factor
"Foxconn to manufacture iPads in Brazil
- Friday, 14 October 2011 00:00
By Lara Holmes
The Taiwanese firm Foxconn confirmed that it will begin manufacturing iPads in Brazil in December [2011] but is still negotiating a multimillion-dollar expansion plan in the country, said senior executives of the company and Brazilian government officials on Thursday.Rousseff President first announced the intention of Foxconn to build Apple Tablet popular in Brazil for an official visit to China in April [2012] ....Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou, and the Brazilian Minister of Science and Technology, Aloizio Mercadante, told reporters Thursday that the company begin to assemble the iPads locally in December at its plant in Jundiai, in the state of Sao Paulo.....Logistical factors such as proximity to airports, are key issues in this decision, the minister explained."
Santa Teresa N.M. Airport near Port of Entry is adding/changing airport runway(s), and opinion is that these would be capable of accommodating cargo planes.
Ferromex
"Ferromex still has $160.8 million dollars"
Tuesday, 11 October 2011 00:00
Asarco's owner Grupo Mexico owns Ferromex (and Carlyle Group owns more than 20% of Grupo Mexico)
Tuesday, 11 October 2011 00:00
Asarco's owner Grupo Mexico owns Ferromex (and Carlyle Group owns more than 20% of Grupo Mexico)
The Asarco El Paso Cleanup TRUST has no feduciary responsibility to remediate or report on the secret materials Asarco incinerated between 1991-1998
What do Asarco's owners Grupo Mexico (Ferromex Railroad), Punta Colonet Pacific Seaport , Santa Teresa N.M. Port of Entry and Foxcon
have in common? They all depend upon development within ten miles of Asarco's secret hazardous waste incinerator (1991-1998) --- the contamination likely stretched out 30 miles (1000 square miles); and, the secret wastes (which included radioactive materials) should have been vetted before any of this port-development, railroad development, and Asarco-site-cleanup/development occurred....
http://puntacolonetmega-port.blogspot.com
"Sunday, December 12, 2010
have in common? They all depend upon development within ten miles of Asarco's secret hazardous waste incinerator (1991-1998) --- the contamination likely stretched out 30 miles (1000 square miles); and, the secret wastes (which included radioactive materials) should have been vetted before any of this port-development, railroad development, and Asarco-site-cleanup/development occurred....
http://puntacolonetmega-port.blogspot.com
"Sunday, December 12, 2010
Punta Colonet Mega-Port to be Bid in Spring 2011, Regardless of Panama Canal Expansion, Says Mexico Secretary of Communications & Transportation; Ferromex/Union Pacific Considering Bidding on Rail Portion"
Mr. Daisey and the Apple Factory
Mr. Daisey and the Apple Factory
For more information about this company, who is the keystone-company at the Santa Teresa Port of Entry, search this blog for "Foxcon" or google the internet for "Foxcon asarco".
For more information about this company, who is the keystone-company at the Santa Teresa Port of Entry, search this blog for "Foxcon" or google the internet for "Foxcon asarco".
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
asarco "former General Manager of the Mission Complex in Sahuarita, AZ "will take over duties as Argonaut's COO""
"Argonaut Gold Announces New Chief Operating Officer
Marketwire
Mr. Rhoades is the former General Manager of the Mission Complex in Sahuarita, AZ for Asarco LLC. He will take over duties as Argonaut's COO on January 3, ..."
Marketwire
Mr. Rhoades is the former General Manager of the Mission Complex in Sahuarita, AZ for Asarco LLC. He will take over duties as Argonaut's COO on January 3, ..."
"About Argonaut Gold
Argonaut is a Canadian gold company engaged in exploration, mine development and production activities. Its primary assets are the production-stage El Castillo Mine in the State of Durango, Mexico, the development stage and past producing La Colorada project, the advanced exploration San Antonio project, and several exploration stage projects, all of which are located in Mexico."
" Google Alert - asarco Arizona Silver Belt ADEQ to renew permit for ASARCO Hayden smelter"
"Arizona Silver Belt ADEQ to renew permit for ASARCO Hayden smelter
Officials of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality say they have reached a preliminary decision and are proposing to issue an Air Quality Renewal ...
www.silverbelt.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0..."
Google Alert - asarco "EPA Region 7 to Host News Conference Dec. 15 to ...."
"EPA Region 7 to Host News Conference Dec. 15 to ....
U.S. EPA.gov
From the early 1870s until it closed in 1997, the ASARCO plant emitted lead and other heavy metals into the atmosphere from smoke stacks and fugitive ...
"
"WHO: EPA Regional Administrator Karl Brooks, Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle, Nebraska State Sen. Brenda Council and Douglas County Health Director Dr. Adi Pour
In 1998, the Omaha City Council solicited assistance from EPA in addressing problems with lead contamination in area soils, prompted by cleanup activities at the former ASARCO lead processing facility along the west bank of the Missouri River in Omaha. From the early 1870s until it closed in 1997, the ASARCO plant emitted lead and other heavy metals into the atmosphere from smoke stacks and fugitive emissions." [this site closed after EPA Region 6 and Federal DOJ discovered that Asarco had been running an illegal multi-state hazardous waste incineration operation -- sending wastes from Corpus Christi TX to El Paso TX, E. Helena MT (with some products then shipping to Globe CO) -- did some go to Region 7's Kansas City Asarco?]
U.S. EPA.gov
From the early 1870s until it closed in 1997, the ASARCO plant emitted lead and other heavy metals into the atmosphere from smoke stacks and fugitive ...
"
"WHO: EPA Regional Administrator Karl Brooks, Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle, Nebraska State Sen. Brenda Council and Douglas County Health Director Dr. Adi Pour
In 1998, the Omaha City Council solicited assistance from EPA in addressing problems with lead contamination in area soils, prompted by cleanup activities at the former ASARCO lead processing facility along the west bank of the Missouri River in Omaha. From the early 1870s until it closed in 1997, the ASARCO plant emitted lead and other heavy metals into the atmosphere from smoke stacks and fugitive emissions." [this site closed after EPA Region 6 and Federal DOJ discovered that Asarco had been running an illegal multi-state hazardous waste incineration operation -- sending wastes from Corpus Christi TX to El Paso TX, E. Helena MT (with some products then shipping to Globe CO) -- did some go to Region 7's Kansas City Asarco?]
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Now Houghton and others want to build a highway through the ASARCO site -- still without disclosing the illegal highly poisonous wastes
"Another proposal would align the project's northern section about 150 feet away from I-10 through the Asarco site. Some black slag, a smelting byproduct piled on the site, could provide road bed material, filling in depressions along the highway route, Houghton said. Although some of the slag could leach contamination and will be buried in high-tech landfills, analysis has shown much of it is safe for such highway construction use, officials have said.
An environmental impact study also is under way, Houghton said." El Paso Times 12-7-11
See google alert:
"Input sought for Loop 375 West
El Paso Times
It will connect the Border Highway with Interstate 10 through the Chihuahuita neighborhood and the former Asarco smelter property. New construction will be ..."
Monday, December 5, 2011
Investigator stated that Asarco confidential settlement in 1998 "a sellout of the public"
"With the government cornered into signing this consent decree you, USA, Texas and the US-EPA lose all
rights upon the acceptance of this decree, which to me is a sell out of the public, since you are
supposed to look out for public interest."...."The TNRCC, has received some of these objections,
faxed to Albert M. Bronson, Asst. Attorney General on 5/26/99."
EPA FOIA document
rights upon the acceptance of this decree, which to me is a sell out of the public, since you are
supposed to look out for public interest."...."The TNRCC, has received some of these objections,
faxed to Albert M. Bronson, Asst. Attorney General on 5/26/99."
EPA FOIA document
Monday, November 21, 2011
The Asarco El Paso Clean-up Trust has no fiduciary or contractual obligation to test for/remediate ANY of the illicit materials from the 1991-1998 haz-waste years
"Mike Casbon, who is based in Indiana with multi-national contractor ERM Inc., has spent much of the past 10 months in El Paso, Texas, helping oversee the demolition of a copper smelting facility that is spread out over 200 acres.
ERM hired Brandenburg Industrial Service Co., Chicago, as its demolition subcontractor for the project. Malcolm Pirnie, Highlands Ranch, Colo., was the lead remediation contractor....Casbon said the efforts of ERM, Brandenburg and others working on the project have provided a tremendous financial success for the Asarco site land trust. Rather than spending down the trust's $52 million cash reserves for the project, work done thus far has provided an additional $25 million to the trust's value."
http://www.cdrecycler.com/cdr1111-2011-cdr-forum.aspx
The "Trust's Value" might not be 25$Million greater if the bankruptcy court had considered liability from the illicit hazardous waste contamination in the Paso del Norte... Those sales of "metals" might be profitable only because the Bankruptcy court has for some reason ignored the presence of the illicit wastes... and the costs of removing/disposing of those illegal materials from those "metals" before sale...
In 1997 Goldman Sachs was to underwrite pollution control bonds-refinancing for ASARCO
In late October of 1997, before Asarco was caught by the EPA and the Federal Department of Justice for running an unpermitted and illegal multi-state hazardous waste disposal operation-for-money, Asarco began plans to redeem some of its tax-exempt bonds for refinancing (see http://www.allbusiness.com/banking-finance/financial-markets-investing-securities/7054881-1.html ). The Bonds included Pollution-control revenue refunding bonds in Arizona, Texas and Montana. Goldman Sachs was going to act "as underwriter of the new bonds":
In 2010 Goldman Sachs suddenly (see Bloomberg reports ) planned:
In a strange quirk of rumor, fast-forward to November 2011, a newsletter (http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article31653.html) claims that Goldman Sachs is positioned today to gain from the current European banking crisis:
By 1998 Asarco was secretly caught by EPA and DOJ running the sham-recyling scheme and 'paid millions on the condition that the details would never become public." (quote from Rep. Reyes) When the Asarco bankruptcy began in 2005, Harbinger (Hedge Fund) was one of the primary debt-holders. The company was cleared of any liability from its illicit actions between 1991-1998; the debts of decades of pollution paid off on pennies on the dollar; and, the lucrative parts of the company saved. All creditors were paid off.The issues to be called are the Industrial Development Authority of the County of Gila, Arizona, Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 1985 and 1987, 8.90% due July 1, 2006; the Nueces River Authority, Texas, 7 3/8% Environmental Improvement Revenue Bonds, Series 1976-A and 1976-B, due June 1, 2006; and the Lewis and Clark County, Montana 6 3/4% Pollution Control Revenue Bonds, 1976 Series, due December 1, 2006....The aggregate principal amount of bonds the Company plans to call is $133.4 million. The Company has recorded a pre-tax charge in the third quarter of 1997 of $3.9 million in connection with the refinancing, which is expected to reduce the Company's annual interest costs by approximately $3.0 million. Goldman Sachs will act as underwriter of the new bonds to be issued in the refinancing."
In 2010 Goldman Sachs suddenly (see Bloomberg reports ) planned:
http://dealbreaker.com/2010/11/goldman-sachs-pulls-120-million-from-harbinger-capital-after-falcone-loans-himself-money-from-other-fund/
"to pull its entire investment [120 million $] from Harbinger Capital’s flagship fund, for two reasons. 1) The returns weren’t very good and 2) Falcone “borrowed” $113 million from one of his firm’s smaller funds (where redemptions had been suspended) in order to pay personal taxes."
In a strange quirk of rumor, fast-forward to November 2011, a newsletter (http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article31653.html) claims that Goldman Sachs is positioned today to gain from the current European banking crisis:
"Incidentally, is it really that surprising that Goldman is now doing its best to precipitate a bank run of Europe’s major financial institutions by "suddenly" exposing the truth that was there all along? During the great financial crisis of 2008, the one biggest winner from the collapse of Bear and Lehman was none other than the squid. This time around, Goldman has set its sights on Europe and has already made sure that its tentacles will be in firmly in control at all the right places when the collapse comes, as the Independent shows."
Quote from Federal DOJ Bankruptcy court trustee Mike Boudlocke regarding ASARCO
"However, the project still is on target for a late 2012 completion,
said bankruptcy court trustee Mike Boudloche. He was appointed by the
U.S. Bankruptcy Court overseeing the ASARCO Inc. and Encycle/Texas Inc.
bankruptcy cases.
said bankruptcy court trustee Mike Boudloche. He was appointed by the
U.S. Bankruptcy Court overseeing the ASARCO Inc. and Encycle/Texas Inc.
bankruptcy cases.
"We are almost finished with the asbestos removal on the stack and will
begin bringing it down the first week of December," Boudloche said on
Thursday.
The 315-ft tall, asbestos-lined stack, the most visible symbol of the
site's environmental problems, will be cut into pieces and hauled away,
he said."
http://www.caller.com/news/2011/nov/20/asarcoencycle-demolition-delayed-weather-still-tim/
Sunday, November 20, 2011
E. Helena Asarco Officials consider "moving the creek" away from the poisons... but El Paso TX cannot move the Rio Grande away from their ASARCO toxic site....
If the "officials" could, they would probably move the nation's sixth longest river, the Rio Grande - which is right next to the toxic Asarco El Paso smelter site -- because the Asarco El Paso plume has reached the river the entire length of the Asarco property...
"Google Alert - asarco
"Google Alert - asarco
Officials consider moving creek at toxic slag pile
Washington Examiner
Ford said that a $140 million settlement with Asarco isn't enough to do the needed cleanup work on soils and groundwater, as well as move some 14 million ..."
Washington Examiner
Ford said that a $140 million settlement with Asarco isn't enough to do the needed cleanup work on soils and groundwater, as well as move some 14 million ..."
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
United States of America vs Asarco LLC --- East Helena CAMU Trust
Taken from google alert:
" U.S. v. ASARCO, LLC No. 10-35824.
| " U.S. v. ASARCO, LLC Leagle.com The fact that a subsequent bankruptcy settlement agreement resolved any remaining or future liability on ASARCO's part for that work also has no bearing on ... " |
" U.S. v. ASARCO, LLC No. 10-35824.
NOT FOR PUBLICATION
MEMORANDUM*
ASARCO appeals the district court's denial of its motion to terminate the East Helena CAMU Trust ("CAMU Trust") and grant of summary judgment in favor of the United States. .... The fact that a subsequent bankruptcy settlement agreement resolved any remaining or future liability on ASARCO's part for that work also has no bearing on the trust's termination, since the trust's language is clear that the trustee is to reimburse ASARCO "or other persons" for work done on the CAMU Phase 2 Cell. Similarly, that the bankruptcy settlement agreement established a separate trust to fund cleanup activities at various locations, including at the East Helena site, which trust's funds could be used by the government for the CAMU Phase 2 Cell, also has no bearing on the CAMU Trust's termination.... AFFIRMED. "
Sunday, November 13, 2011
What Toxic World has Asarco's eight years of unpermitted hazardous waste incineration left El Paso Texas?
"Mankind has gone very far into an artificial world of his own creation."
From Carson’s speech in acceptance of the National Book Award, 1963
http://www.fws.gov/northeast/rachelcarson/Excerpts.html
Asarco pays more [65 million] to upgrade its Tuscon Mill than it will to clean up over 100 years of smelting and nearly ten years of illegal hazardous-waste incineration at El Paso TX [52 million]
Asarco pays more [65 million] to upgrade its Tuscon Mill than it will to clean up over 100 years of smelting and nearly ten years of illegal hazardous-waste incineration at El Paso TX [52 million]. And, how do we know that ASARCO isn't running another unpermitted Hazardous Waste Operation like it did from 1991-1998? They said the same thing - that they were increasing production and decreasing pollution when they put the new ConTop furnaces in El Paso Asarco 1992...
"Asarco Copper Mill to Double Output While Cutting Dust Emissions
http://southwest.construction.com/yb/sw/article.aspx?story_id=165754240
"Asarco Copper Mill to Double Output While Cutting Dust Emissions
11/10/2011
By Tony Davis, The Arizona Daily Star, Tucson
Nov. 10--Asarco will nearly double production at a mill south of Tucson, but it says it will reduce dust emissions slightly by adding pollution controls in a $65 million upgrade.
The mining company wants the Pima County Department of Environmental Quality to revise its air quality permit so it can increase the amount of copper ore running through its Mission Mine's south mill by about 71 percent.... County regulators say they agree with Asarco's calculations that emissions will decline despite the higher production levels.
The mill, just south of Pima Mine Road and west of Interstate 19, is one of two at the Mission complex, which employs about 625 people.
After the mine expands the south mill's production capacity, total employment will rise by perhaps 10 to 15 people in about the first quarter of 2013, said Tom Aldrich, Asarco's vice president of environmental affairs."http://southwest.construction.com/yb/sw/article.aspx?story_id=165754240
Thursday, November 10, 2011
2009 gambling debts of Deceased President Swiss bank ," Asarco "
"In April 2009 MGM Grand casino in Las Vegas provided Katamaninu
[Russian Citizen] a loan of 2.5 million dollars. Casino, owned by
Harrah, in May 2009, lent him 1.2 million dollars, and in early July of
that year Katamanin borrowed 95,000 dollars from the casino Wynn Las
Vegas. Lawyers Trump Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City say that
Katamanin owed him 3.2 million... " http://news.vdok.org/page.aspx?id=744
[Russian Citizen] a loan of 2.5 million dollars. Casino, owned by
Harrah, in May 2009, lent him 1.2 million dollars, and in early July of
that year Katamanin borrowed 95,000 dollars from the casino Wynn Las
Vegas. Lawyers Trump Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City say that
Katamanin owed him 3.2 million... " http://news.vdok.org/page.aspx?id=744
HSBC Holdings Plc accused of aiding Madoff's fraud Dec. 6 2010
"Dec. 6, 2010
HSBC Holdings Plc, Europe’s biggest lender, was sued for $9 billion over claims it aided Bernard Madoff’s fraud through a network of feeder funds in Europe, the Caribbean and Central America. Irving H. Picard, trustee for the liquidation of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC, sued HSBC and a dozen feeder funds in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan, Picard said in a statement....The suit alleges the bank was aware of concerns that Madoff’s investment business was fraudulent and didn’t take steps to protect investors, according to the statement. .... HSBC said in a statement that Picard’s allegations are “unfounded” and that it will defend itself against them in court." http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-06/hsbc-holdings-sued-by-madoff-trustee-for-9-billion-for-alleged-misconduct.html
What do Asarco, HSBC and Petrobras have in common
"January 6, 2011
Six deals on which Cleary Gottlieb advised during 2010 were named as “Deals of the Year” by International Financing Review.The award-winning deals are:
Latin America Equity Issue of the Year: Petrobras’s $70 billion follow-on offering. (Cleary Gottlieb represented Petrobras. This is expected to be largest equity offering ever.) ....Financial Bond—Subordinated Debt: HSBC’s $3.8 billion $25 par capital securities. (Cleary Gottlieb represented HSBC.) Latin America Loan of the Year: Americas Mining Corporation’s $1.5 billion loan. (Cleary Gottlieb was counsel to a bank syndicate. The loan was used to fund Americas Mining plan of reorganization for its U.S. copper unit, ASARCO LLC.)"
http://www.cgsh.com/cleary_gottlieb_counsel_in_six_ifr_deals_of_the_year/
Asarco's former principle Creditor (Harbinger group) tied to HSBC bank through ....
Tony Pace Title: Controller at Harbinger Capital Partners Demographic info: Greater New York City Area | Financial Services Current: Controller at Harbinger Capital Partners, U.S. Head of Fund Accounting and Financial Reporting at HSBC, Alternative Fund Services Past: VP Fund Treasurer at Reich & Tang Funds, Director of Client Service Group at GlobeOp Financial Services, Controller – Director of Mutual Fund... Education: Hofstra University http://www.linkedin.com/title/financial+controller/at-hsbc/ See also: http://arabnews.com/economy/article482990.ece
"HSBC’s China gold futures foray... By REUTERS
Published: Aug 4, 2011 17:24 Updated: Aug 4, 2011 17:24
SHANGHAI: China giving HSBC Holdings Plc entry to its gold futures market, a first for a foreign bank, is likely a [predictor] of a further opening to local and overseas institutions to trade the precious metal.....China’s moves to free up its gold market will not only create more trading opportunities for foreign banks, but it will also allow them to tap growing local demand for gold investment products.....By letting in HSBC, one of the world’s leading gold trading houses, the SHFE will pave the way for more foreign and local banks to join the market — a big step toward the liberalization of the tightly controlled gold sector and one that could help deepen the derivatives market...."
"HSBC’s China gold futures foray... By REUTERS
Published: Aug 4, 2011 17:24 Updated: Aug 4, 2011 17:24
SHANGHAI: China giving HSBC Holdings Plc entry to its gold futures market, a first for a foreign bank, is likely a [predictor] of a further opening to local and overseas institutions to trade the precious metal.....China’s moves to free up its gold market will not only create more trading opportunities for foreign banks, but it will also allow them to tap growing local demand for gold investment products.....By letting in HSBC, one of the world’s leading gold trading houses, the SHFE will pave the way for more foreign and local banks to join the market — a big step toward the liberalization of the tightly controlled gold sector and one that could help deepen the derivatives market...."
July 2011 Former ASARCO principle-creditor/ Hedge Fund's operating chief resigns....
"Harbinger Capital's operating chief resigns
The Wall Street Journal 06 Jul 2011
The Wall Street Journal 06 Jul 2011
Hedge-fund firm Harbinger Capital Partners, founded by Philip Falcone, said Tuesday that Peter Jenson has resigned as chief operating officer and director....Jenson, who left Citadel Investment for Harbinger in 2009, was responsible for all operational activities of the funds....Meanwhile, Harbinger Group, a publicly traded company majority-owned by Harbinger Capital, has appointed Omar Asali as acting president, succeeding Falcone, who will continue to serve as chairman and chief executive....Asali, who is a managing director and head of global strategy for Harbinger Capital, was previously co-head of Goldman Sachs's hedge-fund strategies. "
http://www.efinancialnews.com/story/2011-07-06/harbinger-capital-operating-chief-resigns
Harbinger Capital Partners manager left
"After more than eight years working beside Philip A. Falcone, the embattled hedge manager of Harbinger Capital Partners, Lawrence Clark, a top investment manager at the firm, confirmed on Monday that he had left to start his own fund. Mr. Clark, 39, plans to start an event-driven hedge fund focused on metals, mining, food and agriculture, areas that he covered as a senior analyst when he reported directly to Mr. Falcone.....It’s about ....striking out on my own,” Mr. Clark said, noting that he remained on the board of Mr. Falcone’s public company, the Harbinger Group."
http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/01/10/top-harbinger-official-leaves-to-start-own-firm/
[see "Harbinger" within epgtlo's internal search engine for more information]
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Goldman Sachs and Asarco copper price fluctuations-- and Goldman Sachs-speech by arrested Occupy-Wall Street Chris Hedges....."What we are asking for today is simple—it is a return to the rule of law."
Goldman Fraud Charge Hits Copper Prices
Copper Investing News 2010
Grupo Mexico will show benefits from its acquisition of Arizona's Asarco, ... Grupo Mexico won back control of Asarco in December, pulling the US copper ..."
"By Leia Michele Toovey- Exclusive to Copper Investing News" "As news over impending fraud charges against leading commodities player Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) hit the market last Friday, copper witnessed considerable downside. Risk averse investors jumped from their positions, sending copper plummeting to a three month low.... Hiding behind the Goldman front, negative data is still weighing down copper..."
See current speech/arrest in front of Goldman Sachs this week...
Copper Investing News 2010
Grupo Mexico will show benefits from its acquisition of Arizona's Asarco, ... Grupo Mexico won back control of Asarco in December, pulling the US copper ..."
"By Leia Michele Toovey- Exclusive to Copper Investing News" "As news over impending fraud charges against leading commodities player Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) hit the market last Friday, copper witnessed considerable downside. Risk averse investors jumped from their positions, sending copper plummeting to a three month low.... Hiding behind the Goldman front, negative data is still weighing down copper..."
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Asarco Bankruptcy ends, and bring predictions "... that Grupo Mexico's total copper sales volumes should be propelled 43 percent year-on-year" as METAL PRICES RECOVER
"Google Web Alert for: asarco
"
"MEXICO CITY, April 20 (Reuters) - Grupo Mexico, the nation's biggest copper miner, is set to report a sharp jump in quarterly results as ...metal prices recover, a Reuters poll showed. Seven analysts consulted by Reuters estimated the company's (GMEXICOB.MX...) first-quarter net profit at $383 million, about 20 times year-earlier earnings of $19 million. Grupo Mexico won back control of Asarco in December, pulling the U.S. copper miner out of bankruptcy by winning a drawn-out court battle and outbidding India's Sterlite Industries Ltd...). ...."In the first quarter that Asarco's results are fully consolidated, we estimate that Grupo Mexico's total copper sales volumes should be propelled 43 percent year-on-year," brokerage Grupo Bursatil Mexicano said in a report."
| PREVIEWGrupo Mexico profit seen up on Asarco copper prices ... WHAT: Grupo Mexico Q1 earnings results * WHEN: Friday, April 23 * REUTERS FORECAST: Net profit seen soaring year-on-year By Mica Rosenberg MEXICO CITY, ... in.reuters.com/article/.../idINN2021866520100420 |
"MEXICO CITY, April 20 (Reuters) - Grupo Mexico, the nation's biggest copper miner, is set to report a sharp jump in quarterly results as ...metal prices recover, a Reuters poll showed. Seven analysts consulted by Reuters estimated the company's (GMEXICOB.MX...) first-quarter net profit at $383 million, about 20 times year-earlier earnings of $19 million. Grupo Mexico won back control of Asarco in December, pulling the U.S. copper miner out of bankruptcy by winning a drawn-out court battle and outbidding India's Sterlite Industries Ltd...). ...."In the first quarter that Asarco's results are fully consolidated, we estimate that Grupo Mexico's total copper sales volumes should be propelled 43 percent year-on-year," brokerage Grupo Bursatil Mexicano said in a report."
"Analysts consulted by Reuters expect [Asarco owner --- GMEXICOB.MX] first-quarter net profit will soar almost 2,000 percent"
See current speech/arrest in front of Goldman Sachs this week...
Chris Hedges' Speech in Front of Goldman Sachs Leads to Arrest
By Chris Hedges
Chris Hedges made this statement in New York City's Zuccotti Park on Thursday morning during the People's Hearing on Goldman Sachs, which he chaired with Dr. Cornel West. The activist and Truthdig columnist then joined a march of several hundred protesters to the nearby corporate headquarters of Goldman Sachs, where he was arrested with 16 others.
Goldman Sachs, which received more subsidies and bailout-related funds than any other investment bank because the Federal Reserve permitted it to become a bank holding company under its "emergency situation," has used billions in taxpayer money to enrich itself and reward its top executives. It handed its senior employees a staggering $18 billion in 2009, $16 billion in 2010 and $10 billion in 2011 in mega-bonuses. This massive transfer of wealth upwards by the Bush and Obama administrations, now estimated at $13 trillion to $14 trillion, went into the pockets of those who carried out fraud and criminal activity rather than the victims who lost their jobs, their savings and often their homes.
Goldman Sachs' commodities index is the most heavily traded in the world. Goldman Sachs hoards rice, wheat, corn, sugar and livestock and jacks up commodity prices around the globe so that poor families can no longer afford basic staples and literally starve. Goldman Sachs is able to carry out its malfeasance at home and in global markets because it has former officials filtered throughout the government and lavishly funds compliant politicians—including Barack Obama, who received $1 million from employees at Goldman Sachs in 2008 when he ran for president. These politicians, in return, permit Goldman Sachs to ignore security laws that under a functioning judiciary system would see the firm indicted for felony fraud. Or, as in the case of Bill Clinton, these politicians pass laws such as the 2000 Commodity Futures Modernization Act that effectively removed all oversight and outside control over the speculation in commodities, one of the major reasons food prices have soared. In 2008 and again in 2010 prices for crops such as rice, wheat and corn doubled and even tripled, making life precarious for hundreds of millions of people. And it was all done so a few corporate oligarchs, the 1 percent, could make personal fortunes in the tens and hundreds of millions of dollars. Despite a damning 650-page Senate subcommittee investigation report, no individual at Goldman Sachs has been indicted, although the report accuses Goldman of defrauding its clients.
When the government in the fall 2008 provided the firm with billions of dollars in the form of cheap loans, FDIC debt guarantees, TARP, AIG make-wholes, and a late-night label-shift from investment bank to bank holding company, giving the firm access to excessive Federal Reserve aid, access [the corporation] still has, it enabled and abetted Goldman's criminal behavior. Goldman Sachs unloaded billions in worthless securities to its clients, decimating 401(k)s, pension and mutual funds. The firm misled investors about the true nature of these worthless securities, insisted the securities they were pushing on their clients were sound, and hid the material fact that, simultaneously, they were betting against these same securities—$2 billion against just one of their deals. The firm then had the gall to extort from its victims—us—to make good on its bets when the global economy it helped trash lost $40 trillion in worldwide wealth and huge insurance firms were unable to cover their bad debts.
The Securities Act of 1933, established in the wake of the massive fraud that pervaded the securities market before the 1929 Crash, was written to ensure that "any securities transactions are not based on fraudulent information or practices." The act "prohibits deceit, misrepresentation, and other fraud in the sale of securities." The subcommittee report indicates that Goldman Sachs clearly broke security laws.
As part of the political theater that has come to replace the legislative and judicial process, the Securities and Exchange Commission agreed to a $550 million settlement whereby Goldman Sachs admitted it showed "incomplete" information in marketing materials and that it was a "mistake" to not disclose the nature of its portfolio selection committee. This fine was a payoff to the SEC by Goldman Sachs of about four days' worth of revenue, and in return they avoided going to court. CEO Lloyd Blankfein apparently not only lied to clients, but to the subcommittee itself on April 27, 2010, when he told lawmakers: "We didn't have a massive short against the housing market, and we certainly did not bet against our clients." Yet, they did.
And yet nothing has been done. No Goldman Sachs officials have gone to trial. This is because there is no way within the corporate state to vote against the interests of Goldman Sachs. There is no way through the formal mechanisms of power to restore the rule of law. There is no way to protect the ordinary citizen and the poor around the globe from the predatory activity of financial institutions such as Goldman Sachs. Since our courts refuse to put on trial the senior executives at Goldman Sachs, including Blankfein, who carried out these crimes and lied to cover them up, we will. Speculators like those in Goldman Sachs—who in the 17th century when speculation was a crime would have been hanged—must be prevented by law from again destroying our economy, preying on ordinary citizens, hoarding food so the poor starve and running our political process. We are paying for these crimes—not those who orchestrated perhaps the most massive fraud in human history. Our teachers, police, firefighters and public employees are losing their jobs so speculators like Blankfein can make an estimated $250,000 a day. Working men and women are losing their homes and going into personal bankruptcy because they cannot pay their medical bills. Our unemployed, far closer to 20 percent than the official 9 percent, are in deep distress all so a criminal class, a few blocks from where I speak, can wallow in luxury with mansions and yachts and swollen bank accounts.
What we are asking for today is simple—it is a return to the rule of law. And since the formal mechanisms of power refuse to restore the rule of law, then we, the 99 percent, will have to see that justice is done.
This article was published at NationofChange at: http://www.nationofchange.org/chris-hedges-speech-front-goldman-sachs-leads-arrest-1320422765.
Included here in full-text, with citation as Fair Use (creative commons, non-commercial)
Asarco associated Citigroup (Citigroup and Harbinger Hedge fund were creditors in Asarco's bankruptcy)
for more on Citigroup and Asarco, search for these key-words within the google-blog's search engine...
for starters, see:
"Robert Scheer, Op-Ed: “Can we all agree that a $1 billion swindle represents a lot of money, and the fact that Citigroup agreed last week to pay a $285 million fine to settle SEC charges for “misleading investors” demonstrates a damning admission of culpability? So why has Robert Rubin, the onetime treasury secretary who went on to become Citigroup chairman during the time of the corporation’s financial shenanigans, never been held accountable for this and other deep damage done to the U.S. economy on his watch?”
Rubin’s tenure atop the world of high finance began when he was co-chairman of Goldman Sachs, before he became Bill Clinton’s treasury secretary and pushed through the reversal of the Glass-Steagall Act, an action that legalized the formation of Citigroup and other “too big to fail” banking conglomerates.Rubin’s destructive impact on the economy in enabling these giant corporate banks to run amok was far greater than that of swindler Bernard Madoff, who sits in prison under a 150-year sentence while Rubin sits on the Harvard Board of Overseers, as chairman of the Council on Foreign Relations and as a leader of the Brookings Institution’s Hamilton Project.
Rubin was rewarded for his efforts on behalf of Citigroup with a top job as chairman of the bank’s executive committee and at least $126 million in compensation. That was “compensation” for steering the bank to the point of a bankruptcy avoided only by a $45 billion taxpayer bailout and a further guarantee of $300 billion of the bank’s toxic assets.
"
http://www.nationofchange.org/too-big-jail-1320412438
Jul 27, 2009 ... Citigroup and Harbinger are creditors in Asarco's pending bankruptcy proceeding. They are based in New York and together are owed $300 ...
epgtlo.blogspot.com/2009/07/citigroup-comment-on-pemex.html
Jul 30, 2010 ... Citigroup has agreed to pay the SEC $75 million to settle charges that the bank hid exposure to more than $40 billion [1] in subprime CDOs. ...
epgtlo.blogspot.com/2010/.../asarco-former-principle-bondholder.html
| Sep 17, 2009 ... Citigroup Bank is a "Key Financial Team member" for the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority (CRRMA) that builds El Paso TX highways ... epgtlo.blogspot.com/.../citigroup-bank-is-key-financial-entity.html |
| Aug 4, 2010 ... ASARCO Bondholder Citigroup's head of Latin America team handled CEMEX acquisition of RMC and a 1.1 Billion$ offer for Grupo Mexico S.Peru ... epgtlo.blogspot.com/.../asarco-bondholder-citigroups-head-of.html |
| Jul 30, 2009 ... Banking giant Citigroup recommends investment in Mexican state-run oil company Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) via its dollar-denominated bonds. ... epgtlo.blogspot.com/2009/.../harbingers-citigroup-recommends.html |
| Aug 27, 2009 ... Citigroup's Oil Trader's $100000000 Payday: A Wakeup Call for the Nation ... Google "Citigroup" in search engine for epgtlo.blogspot.com and ... epgtlo.blogspot.com/2009/.../bank-associated-with-asarco-bonds.html |
| Jul 30, 2010 ... ASARCO former principle-bondholder Citigroup now ordered to pay SEC over ... " Citigroup to Pay $1 for Every $500 in Subprime Exposure It Hid ... epgtlo.blogspot.com/2010_07_25_archive.html |
| Sep 9, 2010 ... 8: Government argues that 75 mil settlement with former Asarco principal bondholder Citigroup is"fair, adequate, reasonable and in the ... epgtlo.blogspot.com/.../2010-sept-8-government-argues-that-75.html |
| Aug 4, 2010 ... ASARCO Bondholder Citigroup's head of Latin America team handled CEMEX ... "John Boord heads Citigroup Global Markets' Latin America ... epgtlo.blogspot.com/2010_08_01_archive.html |
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Now that Asarco's secret liabilities are behind it, Owner Grupo Mexico says that "Asarco's results were promising".
Now that Asarco's secret liabilities are behind it, Owner Grupo Mexico says that "Asarco's results were promising". What about the children remaining behind its Asarco El Paso smelter site, and its community that must socialize the costs remaining from the toxins left behind? The Company profits go to the owners while the costs of polluting a 30-mile-radius zone in a key NAFTA industrialized-zone have been socialized to an unprepared and unknowing community. Grupo Mexico plans (below) to spend nearly 1/2 billion dollars on Asarco in the next three years but got away with only spending 52 million to "remediate" its century-old site in El Paso TX. The clean-up TRUST is not required to remediate ANY of the illegal wastes processed there from 1991-1998 and not required to remediate the deep ground-water beneath that old site (a highly toxic arsenic plume moving in a wide swath -- with some of that groundwater plume already reaching the Rio Grand the width of the company's site according to the TCEQ.)
http://www.steelguru.com/metals_news/Grupo_Mexico_scraps_plan_for_mining_unit_merger/233777.html
"...Grupo Mexico said that Americas Mining the holding company of the mining division that includes Southern Copper and Asarco could list separate securities in capital markets. It did not give details about what kinds of securities AMC could offer, noting this is one of the strategic alternatives AMC is considering.
Banamex said that floating AMC shares would allow Grupo Mexico to raise capital. ....Mr Muniz [CFO of Grupo Mexico] said that Asarco's results were promising and that the mines in Arizona would be able to increase copper output to 280,000 tonnes by 2016...."
http://www.steelguru.com/metals_news/Grupo_Mexico_scraps_plan_for_mining_unit_merger/233777.html
Caveat emptor : ASARCO EL PASO CLEAN-UP TRUSTEE PASSES THE BUCK TO BUYERS
"... the realities of more than 100 years of contamination have left a legacy. One audience member asked whether the stacks and their surroundings would be safe for children.
"I'm not going to say that," Puga said. "The new owners have to say that.""
God help us all, and all the little children who will be playing on the playgrounds and elementary-school-yard on top of the existing Asarco lands in the new "smart code" neighborhoods. Because the children have a high surface volume to body ratio they will intake more dusts and aerosols per pound of body than an adult, and have it affect them and their own babies' development throughout their lives. Simply covering the ground with asphalt will not stop the off-gassing of materials beneath the developments and "will not make it safe" [KVIA interview with UTEP Geologist].
El Paso ASARCO Clean-up Trustee admits that the ASARCO stacks contain contaminants
The El Paso ASARCO Clean-up Trustee admits that the ASARCO stacks contain contaminants that would require sealing the stacks to make these safe, rather than just letting the stacks stand.
http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_19242239
The Trustee/TRUST did not test the CONTOP/Acid Plant's primary metal stack for contaminants, but wrote it off to the Bankruptcy court's decision releasing the TRUST from fiduciary-responsibility to test-for and/or remediate for the illegal chemicals illicitly incinerated by Asarco in El Paso TX from 1991-1998 -- in fact, the Bankruptcy courts totally publicly ignored that such incineration of D.O.E. and other wastes ever happened."But Puga said money from his $52 million budget could be spent only on remediation efforts. It is possible, however, that something like sealing the stacks to prevent the spread of contaminants would qualify, he added."
http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_19242239
EPA to retest Illinois ASARCO zinc smelter site for Beryllium and other contaminants
After Asarco El Paso TX was secretly-caught by the EPA and Federal DOJ to be running a multi-state illegal and unpermitted hazardous waste disposal/incineration operation from 1991-1998, the EPA made ASARCO do a demolition and clean-up of all buildings/stacks related to its El Paso Asarco zinc plant. We are not told how much Beryllium is on site; but, we note that recently the EPA is re-testing an Illinois Asarco Zinc plant site (active until 1994) that is contaminated with beryllium. Beryllium is extremely toxic and there is a Federal Program to compensate all workers thus exposed to it on-the-job.
Why isn't the Federal DOJ/Bankruptcy Court/EPA requiring the TRUST doing El Paso Asarco's "clean-up" to look for and report the levels to the public of Beryllium?
Why isn't the Federal DOJ/Bankruptcy Court/EPA requiring the TRUST doing El Paso Asarco's "clean-up" to look for and report the levels to the public of Beryllium?
Interested Taylor Springs [IL] residents learned during a meeting Oct. 20 with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that a thorough study of the Asarco Superfund site is set to begin.... Within the month, residents can expect to see technicians in required protective clothing [sampling] sediment and surface water from Shoal Creek Middle Fork, ground water from 14 existing monitoring wells and six additional yet-to-be-installed wells, air quality samples, and samples of fish, plants, and animals that may have been affected by site contaminants....Asarco is the 533-acre site of which about 100 acres is covered with residue from former zinc smelting and zinc oxide operations [up to 1994]. The residue includes zinc slag, plant cinder wastes, calcine clinker, sinter clinker, and coal. The primary contaminants are arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc.http://www.thejournal-news.net/articles/2011/10/27/news/news03.txt
Friday, October 21, 2011
Globeville CO ASARCO site accepted materials from El Paso TX Asarco site during illegal-waste burning years (1991-1998)
Recent documents released by the EPA show that the Globeville CO ASARCO site accepted materials from El Paso TX/East Helena MT Asarco sites during illegal-waste burning years (1991-1998).
Have the Globeville Asarco community tested for any of those illegal materials?
Have the Globeville Asarco community tested for any of those illegal materials?
| "Google Alert: |
| Open house planned on Asarco site Your Hub Officials plan to discuss Globeville Asarco redevelopment at meeting. yourhub.denverpost.com/.../0PN6unW4KoCp5OZYFrkCoJ-st... " |
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Washington State got nearly 200 million from Asarco while El Paso TX got less than 40 million
google alert
"Dept. of Ecology plan aims to clean up Tacoma Smelter Plume properties
Tacoma Daily News
In December 2009, the state of Washington obtained a $188 million bankruptcy settlement from Asarco. About $94 million is slated for the Tacoma Smelter ..."
How sad for El Paso TX that they got around 32 million dollars for cleanup of an unpermitted and illegal multi-state hazardous-waste disposal operation (ASARCO from 1991-1998) while Tacoma WA got three times that amount.
Doesn't pay to be a mexican-american community does it. The surface water supply (Rio Grande) is now fully compromised by the Asarco El Paso arsenic-plume. Paltry 32 million; and, the Federal Dept. of Justice Bankruptcy Trustee during the Bush Administration allowed this to happen by looking the other way and letting the Asarco Bankruptcy Courts totally ignore the Asarco hazardous-waste operation-liabilities.
"Dept. of Ecology plan aims to clean up Tacoma Smelter Plume properties
Tacoma Daily News
In December 2009, the state of Washington obtained a $188 million bankruptcy settlement from Asarco. About $94 million is slated for the Tacoma Smelter ..."
How sad for El Paso TX that they got around 32 million dollars for cleanup of an unpermitted and illegal multi-state hazardous-waste disposal operation (ASARCO from 1991-1998) while Tacoma WA got three times that amount.
Doesn't pay to be a mexican-american community does it. The surface water supply (Rio Grande) is now fully compromised by the Asarco El Paso arsenic-plume. Paltry 32 million; and, the Federal Dept. of Justice Bankruptcy Trustee during the Bush Administration allowed this to happen by looking the other way and letting the Asarco Bankruptcy Courts totally ignore the Asarco hazardous-waste operation-liabilities.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
google alert
"
Judge orders Grupo Mexico to refund $1.3B in copper deal
Arizona Daily Star
Grupo Mexico, parent company of Tucson-based Asarco, must return $1.3 billion in shares to Southern Copper Corp. for forcing the unit to overpay for a ..."
Judge orders Grupo Mexico to refund $1.3B in copper deal
Arizona Daily Star
Grupo Mexico, parent company of Tucson-based Asarco, must return $1.3 billion in shares to Southern Copper Corp. for forcing the unit to overpay for a ..."
El Paso Times editorial applauds ex-workers help with chemical testing
Nothing was found. 110 years of smelting; over a decade of illegal unpermitted hazardous waste incineration for profit -- some of it of D.O.E. origin ----- and, nothing bad turned up with the Trust's chemical testing. That is good news for the "smart-code" walkable neighborhood developers who want to site an elementary school and kids playgrounds on the former Asarco ground....
but hardly believable. Incredulous. Makes fools of people who are demanding to know what they were exposed to at Asarco El Paso during the illegal-haz-waste burning years....
google alert:
"Asarco cleanup Exsmelter employees big help El Paso Times
But more testing, especially on the 123-acre plant site of Asarco s total 580-plus acres, is prudent.
www.elpasotimes.com/opinion/ci_19140539
"
Saturday, October 15, 2011
According to this article Asarco El Paso was incinerating stuff until 2005 and that clean-up "A tremendous financial success"
"Mike Casbon, who is based in Indiana with multi-national contractor ERM Inc., has spent much of the past 10 months in El Paso, Texas, helping oversee the demolition of a copper smelting facility that is spread out over 200 acres.
ERM hired Brandenburg Industrial Service Co., Chicago, as its demolition subcontractor for the project. Malcolm Pirnie, Highlands Ranch, Colo., was the lead remediation contractor.
Metals were smelted at the site, adjacent to the border with Mexico, from 1887 until Asarco closed the facility in 2005. In part because owners prior to Asarco smelted lead on the site, decontamination has been a vital part of the demolition and recycling process, said Casbon.
While the decontamination process has been costly, the variety and volume of metals harvested has yielded generous returns. That harvest has included some 3,500 tons of copper; 1.5 million pounds of lead; 44,000 ounces of silver; and 1,200 ounces of gold.
Much of this material has been harvested and sold during a time of record-high metals prices, benefiting the trust entity that now owns the land.
In addition to recycling metal for an eager scrap market, Casbon indicated that the project has also entailed recycling sulfuric acid, Douglas fir timber and some salvageable equipment.
Casbon said the efforts of ERM, Brandenburg and others working on the project have provided a tremendous financial success for the Asarco site land trust. Rather than spending down the trust’s $52 million cash reserves for the project, work done thus far has provided an additional $25 million to the trust’s value.
The 2011 C&D Recycling Forum was Sept. 25-27 at the Turf Valley Resort and Conference Center in Ellicott City, Md."
http://www.cdrecycler.com/cdr-forum-rising-and-falling-LEED-Asarco-Nationals-Park.aspx
ERM hired Brandenburg Industrial Service Co., Chicago, as its demolition subcontractor for the project. Malcolm Pirnie, Highlands Ranch, Colo., was the lead remediation contractor.
Metals were smelted at the site, adjacent to the border with Mexico, from 1887 until Asarco closed the facility in 2005. In part because owners prior to Asarco smelted lead on the site, decontamination has been a vital part of the demolition and recycling process, said Casbon.
While the decontamination process has been costly, the variety and volume of metals harvested has yielded generous returns. That harvest has included some 3,500 tons of copper; 1.5 million pounds of lead; 44,000 ounces of silver; and 1,200 ounces of gold.
Much of this material has been harvested and sold during a time of record-high metals prices, benefiting the trust entity that now owns the land.
In addition to recycling metal for an eager scrap market, Casbon indicated that the project has also entailed recycling sulfuric acid, Douglas fir timber and some salvageable equipment.
Casbon said the efforts of ERM, Brandenburg and others working on the project have provided a tremendous financial success for the Asarco site land trust. Rather than spending down the trust’s $52 million cash reserves for the project, work done thus far has provided an additional $25 million to the trust’s value.
The 2011 C&D Recycling Forum was Sept. 25-27 at the Turf Valley Resort and Conference Center in Ellicott City, Md."
http://www.cdrecycler.com/cdr-forum-rising-and-falling-LEED-Asarco-Nationals-Park.aspx
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