January 13, 1999 one month before ASARCO closed, the ASARCO site became part of the Empowerment Zone...

The Empowerment Zone (EZ)coincidentally is within the areas hit hardest by the historical ASARCO smoke-plume.


"On January 13, 1999, El Paso was one of 15 cities nationwide, and the only city in Texas, to receive an Empowerment Zone (EZ) designation from HUD under Round II of the federal EZ Program. El Paso's EZ has been named El Corazon de El Paso (the Heart of El Paso) because of its rich historical and cultural significance. Encompassing the central core of the city and a portion of the Ysleta area on the east side of town, El Corazon de El Paso is rich in economic possibilities, yet is also one of the most impoverished urban areas in the United States...."

http://www.elpasotexas.gov/elpasoez/

Western Refinery uses same Environmental Consultant as ASARCO

Besides its historical ASARCO work, Zephyr is also a consultant that is
applying to be the "Clean-up Trustee" for ASARCO El Paso. They are also
being used by Western Refining to submit comments to the TCEQ "FLARE"
workgroup about flare-air-emissions.