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ACTION TAKEN: APPROVED TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE COUNTY ON THIS ISSUE.
DISCUSSION AND ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE COUNTY OF EL PASO TO DEVELOP A JOINT CONTINGENCY PLAN TO PROTECT THE CITIZENS OF EL PASO FROM ANY HARMFUL EFFECTS THAT MAY OCCUR AS THE RESULT OF EMISSIONS OF HEAVY METALS AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS FROM ASARCO, PENDING THE RULING IN THE CASE STYLED ASARCO V. TEXAS COMMISSION OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY V. THE CITY OF EL PASO, CAUSE NO. GN 401709, IN THE 261ST DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY, TEXAS.
THE RULING, WHETHER ADVERSE OR FAVORABLE TO THE CITIZENS OF EL PASO, WILL ULTIMATELY RESULT IN A LENGTHY APPELLATE PROCESS, AND IN THE EVENT THE RULING IS ADVERSE, SUCH RULING, PENDING APPEAL/S COULD WRONGFULLY DENY THE CITIZENS OF EL PASO OF THE PROPER OPPORTUNITY TO FULLY DEMONSTRATE THE MAGNITUDE OF HARM THAT WOULD BE CAUSED BY ASARCO'S RESUMED OPERATION.
THE CITY AND THE COUNTY SHARE EQUAL RESPONSIBILITY IN ENSURING THE RIGHTS OF THE CITIZENS TO BE HEARD AT THE CONTESTED CASE HEARING, AS IS EVIDENCED BY THE CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE EL PASO CITY COUNTY HEALTH UNIT THAT STANDS AS A FIRST LINE OF HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTECTION FOR ALL CITIZENS OF EL PASO.
[REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT A. CUSHING, JR., (915) 541-4996 AND MAYOR PRO-TEM ANTHONY W. COBOS, (915) 541-4123] |
