New Updates to the ASARCO Smelter Site Website
{www.RecastingTheSmelter.com}

The Texas Custodial Trust is committed to the remediation of the Site and to working with the surrounding community and stakeholders. As part of our stakeholder outreach efforts we are dedicated to maintaining a website that has the most current and up-to-date site information. Please note that there have been new website updates and some new site activities. These include:

1. Selection of the Demolition Contractor

   The ASARCO Trust has awarded the site demolition contract to Brandenburg Industrial Service Company (Brandenburg) of Chicago, Illinois. Brandenburg is an approximately $150 million dollar a year demolition company with more than 40 years of experience. Their website can be found at www.brandenburg.com/default.html.

   Brandenburg will pay the Trust in excess of $1 million to perform the Site work. This very favorable arrangement is due to the significant value of the scrap metal to be recycled during the demolition. The Trust’s demolition engineering contractor, ERM, managed the procurement process, negotiated the agreement and will provide on-site construction management during the demolition. The payment and cost savings will be used for the site remediation, on such projects as the rehabilitation of Parker Brothers Arroyo.

   Companies that were not selected as a candidate prime contractor in the bidding process may still be eligible to conduct work as a subcontractor to the successful prime contractor.

2. Asset Sales

   We are continuing to market all Site assets. Recently there have been sales for the Oxygen Plant and copper matte and scrap lead for nearly $11MM. Click here to view the Press Releases for these assets. Any money generated by the sale of scrap materials goes directly to fund cleanup and remedial action of the Site. Please view the ‘Assets’ tab of the website for a specific list of items that have been sold.

3. Trustee & Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Partnership

   The ASARCO Texas Custodial Trust, the U.S. Department of Labor and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have recently met to discuss a partnership on the project. The partnership would help to foster open and transparent communication between the public, OSHA, the Trustee and the sub-contractors working on the project. Additionally, this partnership will expand OSHA’s reach into this project, allowing OSHA to work with all the companies involved to promote safety programs, management systems, and work methods utilizing the latest technologies and the safest available methods.

4. Trustee Community Presentations

   The Trustee was invited to speak at the Open Space Advisory Forum and at the Monthly El Paso Council of Engineering Companies Meeting. The presentations covered community outreach, asset recovery, remedy development, data evaluation and records review, and the status of the proposal for Parker Brothers Arroyo. Click here to view a list of the Trustee’s meetings.

5. Recent News

   The El Paso Times has recently posted an editorial regarding the project. Additionally, click here to view all recent news articles on the Site.

Thank you for your interest in the website. We appreciate your blog posts and are working to answer any questions in a timely manner.