City Refuses To Participate In ‘Go Green’ Due To Asarco Involvement

EL PASO, TX. – Next weekend the First Annual ‘Go Green’ Environmental and Recycling Exposition is scheduled to take place at the El Paso Convention Center.

But one very important entity will be missing. The City of El Paso has refused to let any of its departments participate in the Expo because it is being sponsored by Asarco. The city has spent more than $900,000on attorney’s fees fighting Asarco’s request for an air quality permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

And because of that, city officials do not feel it would be right to participate in an event that is presented by Asarco. The Go Green Expo is scheduled for November 17th and 18th — next Saturday and Sunday.

It is expected to feature eighty things at the Convention Center that a citizen can do to help the environment in seven different areas. Those areas include air, construction, transportation and recycling.

Although the city is in favor of being more environmentally friendly, officials say Asarco’s involvement leaves them no choice but to pass on the event. “We have to use taxpayer money correctly, wisely and participating in an event that is not sanctioned by theEPA orTCEQ and is brought by Asarco is just something we cannot participate in,” said Julie Lozano, Spokeswoman for the city.

WhenABC-7 called Asarco officials today, they were unaware of the city’s decision not to participate in this event because they are involved.

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Written for broadcast by Darren Hunt

Edited for KVIA.com by Miguel Martinez