TCEQ: Other Sources For Lead, Arsenic In Region Found

EL PASO, TX. – The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) says new evidence shows contaminants in homeowner’s yards could be coming from other sources, not just ASARCO.

The TCEQ says a particular fertilizer contains potentially hazardous chemicals such as lead and arsenic and that fertilizer was used in the El Paso area. The company, known as Ionate Corporation of America used to have a site in El Paso, but went out of business.

Additionally, The TCEQ says the fertilizer company bought slag from Oglebay-Norton, a company also no longer in El Paso. Slag is the byproduct of the copper smelting process and something ASARCO had no use for.

So for several years the slag was sold to a third party crushing company, Oglebay-Norton. Oglebay norton would crush the slag and use it for various products. But the TCEQ says slag fines, or crushed slag, can be hazardous.

TCEQ Regional Director Archie Clouse, tells ABC-7 that the Ionate Corporation probably used slag in it’s fertilizer because it contains iron and other properties which can improve lawns. Mr. Clouse also said that this report shows contaminants such as lead and arsenic in yards can come from several sources.

ASARCO released a statement Monday saying: