ASARCO Reopening Controversy Continues
EL PASO, TX. – Two passionate sides, one serious fight. The battle overASARCO continues to rage Friday.
Now, those opposed to the copper smelter reopening say they have a creative way to show how many people are on their side.The adage, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” is what those opposed toASARCO are counting on to indefinitely forestall the reopening of the copper smelter.
Both supporters and opponents to the plant’s reopening held news conferences Thursday. Those againstASARCO announced the opportunity for El Pasoans opposed to the smelter to come out as a group and have their picture taken. That huge photograph will then be taken to Austin to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s hearing to determine whether or notASARCO will get its air quality permit. Because the hearing will be held out of the Sun City, thoseopposed toASARCO say the photograph is a way of giving a voice to all those who can’t be there.
ASARCO continues to say they stand by the science and that does not support what those opposed to the smelter have been writing and saying about it. They also say the opposition does not have the full community’s support. “ASARCO should be allowed to open. You know, if any company that is safe and is good for the economy or for the community and they follow the law, [they] should be allowed to operate,”said ASARCO spokesman, Lairy Johnson.
“On the facts, we win, we asolutely win. We have all the facts on our side, the legal argument we win. We’re asking Texas to do something pretty much unprecedented which is to shut down an existing permanent plant,” said City Representative Susie Byrd in response.The controversy continues, TCEQ’s hearing date in Austinis expected to be announced soon.
