04 OCT 2011
Yesterday the ‘Interim Data Gap Report – Soil Sampling’ for the Former ASARCO Smelter Site was released by the Custodial Trust. This interim report summarized results associated with supplemental soil sampling activities. The results released yesterday were for only a portion of the supplemental characterization work that the Trust will complete. The remaining supplemental soil sampling work will be completed once the site demolition is completed.
The purpose of the supplemental soil sampling activities is to fill in information about specific areas of the site that the Trust feels have not been adequately characterized in the past. However, the site is clearly contaminated by the impacts of over 100 years of smelting activities, and the results released yesterday in no way affects that overall assessment of site conditions.
The soil sampling results released yesterday was for the following site areas: 1) the Acid Plant Area, 2) Transformer Storage Area, 3) Wastewater Treatment Plant Sludge Disposal Area, and 4) the Bedding Building & Unloading Building Area. Based on the results, these four areas do not have any new environmental issues.
All reports are available on the Trust’s website: www.recastingthesmelter.com.
Roberto Puga
Custodial Trustee