Judges Recommend Permit Denial For ASARCO

EL PASO, TX. – Judges in the ASARCO Air Quality Hearing recommend that the TCEQ not renewthe smelter’s air permit.

Administrative judges sayASARCO has “failed to prove its smelter operations in El Paso are in compliance with the company’s air quality permit.”

The judges say in their decision that ASARCO failed to prove that its operation would not cause or contribute to air pollution and may pose a threat of pollution in the future

This ruling does not necessarily mean the end of smelting operations in El Paso. The next step now belongs to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) which is expected to decide sometime later this year or in early 2006 on whether to renew ASARCO ‘s air quality permit.

Hearings regarding the future of the plant were held back in July. At that time, opponents of the new permit argued that the century-old plant emitted a mixture of toxic chemicals and caused various health problemsfor residents around the smelter.

However, attorneys for ASARCO argued there is no evidence the plant will cause or contribute to a condition of more air pollution in El Paso.