Asarco El Paso smelter to be razed and site cleared per Feb. 2009 letter between Aldrich and TCEQ

MR. Thomas L. Aldrich
Vice President Environmental Affairs
ASARCO LLC
5285 E. Williams Circle, Suite 2000
Tuscon, Arizona 85711 
Re: Permit Numbers: 4151, 20345, and Federal Operating Permit No. 2871
Ore Handling and Storage Facility and Smelter
El Paso, El Paso County
Regulated Entity Number:  RN100219021
Customer Reference Number:  CN602815524
Account Number:  EE-0007-G 
Dear Mr. Aldrich: 
 
As requested in your letter dated February 6, 2009 we are voiding active New Source Review permit numbers 4151 and 20345.  We understand the copper smelter authorized by Permit No. 20345 and the supporting ore handling facility authorized by Permit No. 4151 will be razed and the plant site cleared. Accordingly, the pending Permit No. 4151 renewal application, revision request, and notification of qualified change request are also voided. 
Additionally, as requested the pending application for Federal Operating Permit (FOP) No. 2871 for the Asarco El Paso Plant site authorized under Title 30 Texas Administrative Code (30 TAC) Chapter 122 is voided. 
Thank you for informing us of the status of your site.  If you have any questions regarding this notice, please contact Mr. Javier Maldonado, P.E. at (512) 239-6047 or Dois Webb, P.E. at (512) 239-1575. 
  
This action is taken under authority delegated by the Executive Director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. 
Sincerely, 
  
Richard A. Hyde, P.E., Director
Air Permits Division
Office of Permitting and Registration 
RAH/DW/ 

cc: David Cabe, P.E., Zephyr Environmental Corp, Austin

Air Permits Section Chief, New Source Review, Section (6PD-R), Environmental

Protection Agency, Region 6, Dallas

Air Quality Manager, Environmental Services, City of El Paso, El Paso

Air Section Manager, Region 6 - El Paso 

Project Number:  120312, 121726, and 122846

First consolidated settlement

"...On January 23,[1998] the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) and ASARCO Incorporated signed a historic agreement regarding alleged [read Rep. Reyes' quote, above that Asarco paid millions so that the community would not find out...] hazardous waste and water violations at two of Asarco’s facilities. According to the EPA, it was the first time that the Government had agreed to a consolidated settlement with a company regarding violations of different statutes at different facilities...."

http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/mercury/430498.pdf