UPDATE: TCEQ Approves Renewal Of ASARCO Air Quality Permit

By MARTIN BARTLETT

AUSTIN — At least 60 students, elected officials and community members crowded into the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s Board Room to watch the TCEQ consider ASARCO’s air quality premit renweal request.

Dozens more crowded into at least two over-flow rooms and watched the proceedings on closed circuit television. Still others protested loudly outside the commission’s hearing room.

Much of the city’s case against ASARCO focused on whether or not the TCEQ even has the legal right to rule on the matter. Attempting to say they did not, the city’s attorney pointed to a 2005 decision by the TCEQ to allow administrative law judges to examine parts of the ASARCO case.

They also said because the smelter has been mothballed for so long that — for more than nine years — that different standards should govern the facility’s re-start. The TCEQ decided to allow public comment at today’s meeting.

Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, D-El Paso, spoke out against the permit renewal request. He was joined by officals from the states of New Mexico and Chihuahua. The CEO of the ASARCO corporation was on hand along with several other top company leaders to petition the Commission to renew its permit.

Mayor John Cook has said the city will sue the TCEQ and the State of Texas if the commission renews the permit.