Second Try: TCEQ Asked for Opinion on Asarco Prosecution
TCEQ refuses to enforce the law. As the Dallas Morning News editorial indicated, TCEQ is corrupt as our state's environmental enforcement agency.
In El Paso, we have one former regional director for TNRCC/TCEQ in prison for cheating the City; and our current TCEQ regional director co-sponsors an event with ASARCO and goes out of his way to defend them in a GAO report.
The law means nothing when those sworn defend it refuse to do so. Unless this is Bolshevik Russia, where the law meant what you wanted it to mean, when you wanted it to mean it -- TCEQ needs to man-up, grow a soul, and stop catering to corrupt polluters! -- Manny
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So what TCEQ is actually saying is that it(TCEQ) is a "time-out" pit stop BEFORE the El Paso County Attorney can begin a criminal prosecution. I guess I would check out what TCEQ has returned under 30 TAC section 70.204(c) -I have pasted same below. If the returned items are what was submitted I would think the El Paso County Attorney has the green light to go ahead...just some thoughts on my part.
30 TAC section 70.204(c)
(a) The peace officer requesting criminal enforcement review under this section shall submit to the executive director a written request for review that is clearly marked "For Law Enforcement Use Only." The request shall include the legal name of the alleged violator and a report describing the facts and circumstances of the alleged criminal environmental violation.
(b) The requesting officer may also include any additional information that the requesting officer determines is relevant to the criminal enforcement review request, in accordance with §70.206 of this title (relating to Factors Considered in the Criminal Enforcement Review Process), and an explanation as to the reason criminal enforcement of the violation is the most appropriate action, rather than administrative or civil enforcement.
(c) Any criminal enforcement review documentation that is submitted under this section will remain the property of the submitting law enforcement agency and the records will be returned upon completion of the criminal enforcement review. -- Janet
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Comments: It's interesting to see Republicans "CUT AND RUN" from environmental issues in Texas. TCEQ's letter is nearly incoherent. If they had issues with the request, they had 10 days after its submission to say something. TCEQ was silent. They dropped the ball and now it's in our court. The County Attorney should prosecute Asarco for their crimes against El Paso. -- James
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Educator Questions Intelligent Design and Gets the Boot
Comments: I am retired, but I was a lawyer for over 50 years and devoted years to civil rights. What can I do. We can'g allow those bastards to ruin Texas education or at least not ruin it any more. -- Gerald Smith
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Comments: That is an ole ploy, to get a free lunch at the "Tap". I have seen it used a couple of times by Jennie.
Works like a charm.
Thanks for sharing. -- Perry
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Comments: But he only ate a little bit! -- Henry
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Despite Harsh HUD Letter, HACEP Hires New ED
Having known Gerry professionally from the District Attorney's office and at CLEAT and also having heard of his little known involvement with and understanding of and desire to help the plight of the mentally ill here in El Paso, I think the people of El Paso will be pleasantly surprised with his effort and conciliatory involvement with the Housing Authority. -- Bob
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HUD supplies two thirds of HACEP's operating budget. One would think that HUD's requests might get a little more deference than that shown by the HACEP board lately.
But then, in the HACEP parallel universe, local politics trumps common sense. -- Jerry
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Man from El Chuco: Helping Bridge the Divide
I love your column! The articles are very funny and very smart. You should write a book. -- Claudia
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Long, Cold and Dark at the Camino Real Landfill Hearing
Thank You for the article and pictures.
Good information.
Great set-up. -- Linda
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Reyes "stunned" that Justice Dept. blocks investigation into CIA tape scandal
Maybe we need an investigation into the Justice Department; whatever happened to the Will of the People!
Sent From News Article: 1912-reyes-stunned-that-justice-dept-blocks-investigation-into-cia-tape-scandal -- Royce
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The HACEP is such a mystery and few people know what's really going on and that is why Rubenstein was able to get his friend's contract through. Keep digging. The El Paso Times doesn't care about all the political and personal favors going on here. Thank you Sito Negron for keeping us informed and getting to the bottom of this cause no one else will. Where is Mayor Cook on all of this while one of his appointments and friend benefits personally at the expense of all of us? WHERE IS MAYOR COOK? -- Johnny
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El Paso Expatriate Project: Who They Are, and What That Tells Us
It was interesting to read about the concerted effort being made to bring back some of the El Paso talent that has been lured to other cities due to the lack of opportunity and the prevailing salary scales.
As Director for Recruitment for the Dallas Independent School District, Dallas, Texas I know very well the significant numbers of talented persons in the El Paso, Juarez and Las Cruces area we have hired during my employment.
Man seek employment elsewhere but yearn to return someday.
We have been very lucky in the last twenty-some years in recruiting some very talented persons from both sides of the border for Dallas ISD as certified teachers and for the Alternative Certification Program.
Quite a few of those years we would not
have made our hiring goals without the great response from the El Paso area.
We specifically picked El Paso because almost all of our canidates were completely bilingual in Spanish/English and familiar with the culure of an urban student enrollment or could quickly adapt.
I have also gone to parties at homes of El Paso residents here in Dallas ( names that will remain unknown) and personally observed the competition of the schools they graduated from, particularly La Bowie y La Travis I believe.
I admired the fierce loyalty for their high schools at the parties when the cheers began and the friendships it created away from home.
I detected their yearning to come home to El Paso, but they had created their homes in the DFW Metroplex and their children have become Dallasites!!
Great story!!! -- Hector
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El Paso's problem, through no fault of its own, is that it is hemmed in by a national border policy that views its biggest asset, Juarez, as the cultural and political enemy. Its other great problem is geographic distance from the rest of the country, making casual visits relatively costly. And lastly, it commits a grave error by trying to emulate cities like Dallas, Houston, or Los Angeles. Those cities are no better culturally, sustainability-wise, or as livable cities than El Paso. It needs to follow its own path or aspire to better models, such as San Francisco (my current home), Vancouver (Canada), or Portland, Oregon. -- David
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Ms. Byrd, O'Rourke, and Villescas ignore the issue that their privileged backgrounds filters how they are looking at this false concept of the "flight of the creative" mind. Those that leave do love El Paso (including downtown as it is now). It is simply an issue of opportunity of employment. For others it is simply adventure. The city does not have to be an Austin/San Antonio/Dallas with the sanitized malls and other monopolizing business. STOP wasting your time on this false visionary projects Byrd and O'Rourke..and by doing what your real talents are..you will add to the El Paso city life (of course, this does not include politics). -- Angel
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Javier Chacon Picked as County Elections Administrator
Is it really possible that you are not sufficiently informed that you have misstated County Judge Anthony Cobos' name in two stories on this topic? -- Jaime
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Having lived here for over 30 years it always amazes me when El Pasoans denigrate this city. Your article gets the point across very well. El Pasoans need to realize there is beauty, excitement and a good life here. More important, they need to show their pride in the city and advertize its positives. -- Marjie
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Lawsuit Claims Libel, Slander by City Manager Joyce Wilson, First Transit
What is right is right and what is wrong is wrong. If Ms Mendoza is claiming wrong than it is wrong. In the time knowing Ms Mendoza as a co-worker. Ms. Mendoza has proven to have very strong professional leadership and has made a difference which makes Ms Mendoza Credibility very respectful as trustworthy. -- Maggie
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Unexcused Absence: Lozano Misses Court
Lozano expects special treatment because he is a City Rep. His last comment shows him complaining because he has to follow rules just like the rest of us. That is the same attitude he took when he couldn't pick the Police Chief. Or the City Manager was having press conferences with him. We have two petulant children on City Council that need a time out - Lozano and Eddie 'Don't you know who I am' Holguin, Jr. -- Dax
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An Open Letter to Rachel Quintana
Hey Rachel, we went to high school and graduated together, I hope all goes well and you get through this okay, take care and be safe. -- Jeremy
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Sunland Park Landfill Hearings Test New Mexico
Consider the landfill for Austin, TX which encourages recycling of all its incoming material.
Start with the materials that compose the largest weight and volume contribution to the waste stream. Yard and landscape wastes can be used to fuel a biogas production facility. Much of the weight and volume of medical wastes are plastics that can be turned into raw material for making new products. The facilities that do this can provide local jobs. Government grants can be used to get these facilities started, and then as they become more efficient, they can be privatized later. -- Lane
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Readers Respond 12.17.07: Sunland Park Landfill and El Chuco
David claims that the hills around ASARCO are black because they are VOLCANIC ROCK!!!!. As usual, the writers who use the most exclamation points have the least idea what they are talking about. The hills around ASARCO are not volcanic, but plutonic. They formed underground and cooled slowly to form the large crystals that are visibly apparent if you stop and look. They are naturally grey and white Andesite and yes, the dark discoloration covering them is caused by sooty air pollution that the smokestack spewed for years. ASARCO smelted lead, copper and other heavy metals. That this process leads to distribution of dangerous by-products is beyond dispute. ASARCO is not detrimental to public health? Keep telling yourself that. Then have another cigarette, drink a bottle of Jack and go for a drive. It can't hurt you. You're immortal. -- John
