Richardson says deny Asarco its air permit Click here to view Governor Richardson Opposes Permit for Asarco Copper Smelter in El Paso Cit By: Darren Meritz / El Paso Times e-mail this to a friend | print this article October 03, 2007 -- New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and Chihuahua Gov. José Reyes Baeza on Tuesday said they, too, don't want the state to grant Asarco's air permit renewal request. "I am concerned that the plant could produce air pollution that could negatively affect our citizens," Richardson said Tuesday. Richardson and Reyes Baeza join El Paso city leaders who have spearheaded a campaign to let the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality know that El Paso residents oppose the air permit renewal. Asarco, which mothballed its El Paso copper smelter in 1999, is expected to receive the commission's decision in the coming months. Asarco said Tuesday that elected officials have an ulterior motive to stop smelter operations. "The ongoing involvement of elected officials across the Borderland is a way to try and change the focus from the city of El Paso's keen interest in our land," said Doug McCallister, general counsel for Asarco. A Tuesday news conference at City Hall included representatives from the New Mexico Environment Department, Sunland Park Mayor Ruben Segura and Texas state Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, D-El Paso -- all opposed to the air permit renewal. Cindy Padilla, deputy Cabinet secretary for the New Mexico Environment Department, said, "We're very concerned about the operation and the application issued to TCEQ to start operations again." The city on Tuesday also unveiled a nine-minute video aimed at encouraging the public to continue opposing the Asarco permit renewal. El Paso Mayor John Cook said the overwhelming majority of El Pasoans oppose the permit renewal, as evidenced by thousands of letters of opposition the commission has received from El Pasoans. "Asarco has proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that they're bad corporate citizens. I don't say that lightly," Cook said. "They do not deserve to have their permit renewed, and El Paso doesn't need them." Related Links El Paso Times article Newspaper Tree article Fair Use Notice: This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a "fair use" of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond "fair use", you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. NAVIGATE Who We Are Help GTLO Home Owners News Room Scientific Reports Calendar of Events Resources Maps Photo Gallery Hazardous Waste   NEWSLETTER Sign up for our FREE Newsletter info@gettheleadout.net | Disclaimer Help Get the Lead Out - Home Owners - News Room - Good Science Calendar of Events - Resources - Photo Gallery

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