Please explain why Uranium values were higher in our region in 1997 - 2000 than in 1990

To: George Brozowski, Bill Luthans

When the EPA came to El Paso in 2001 to test our region for Asarco contamination, UTEP researchers published the following research-paper:

J Air Waste Manag Assoc. 2001 Nov;51(11):1551-60. Analysis of temporal and spatial dichotomous PM air samples in the El Paso-Cd. Juarez air quality basin. by Li WW, Orquiz R, Garcia JH, Espino TT, Pingitore NE, Gardea-Torresdey J, Chow J, Watson JG.

They included several Tables, where they compared the values of chemicals-test-for in 1990 (pre-Asarco Contop-furnace haz-waste burning) vs 1997-2000. The sample sites were downwind of the Asarco smelter.

The 1990 study showed no uranium was found in the samples --- but, seven (plus) years later, UTEP is finding uranium in all sample areas.

Would you send me the data (proof) from Asarco's stack samples (or industrial site) that these chemicals did not originate from the Smelter's illegal activities?

Lawmakers may strip the TCEQ of its EPA responsibilities...

"Bryan W. Shaw’s confirmation as a member of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has run into trouble in the Texas Senate. At a press conference this morning, Sens. Eliot Shapleigh, Wendy Davis and Rodney Ellis called for a “top to bottom” review of the agency — in the manner of the DeLoitte Touche analysis of management at the TexasDepartment of Transportation.

Citing examples of ex parte communications, the revolving door between the commission and industry, failure to enforce federal laws and a pattern of decisions in which the commission overrules its own scientists, the three lawmakers claimed unethical — and sometimes illegal — activities at the TCEQ were undermining the agency’s core mission.....

Monday, the three lawmakers also raised the possibility that federal regulators would step in and strip the TCEQ of responsibilities delegated by the EPA. Environmental groups filed a petition requesting that action under the Bush Administration and no action was taken; that could change once the Obama Administration names a new regional EPA director...."

http://www.texasmonthly.com/blogs/burkablog/?p=3624