Thu November 17, 2011 EPA Takes Action Against Toxic Arizona
Copper Plant The Environmental Protection Agency has taken tough
enforcement action against a copper smelter in Arizona that has
drawn complaints about toxic pollution for years. The
unpublicized "finding of violation" issued against the Asarco
copper smelter in Hayden, Ariz., claims the company has been
continuously emitting illegal amounts of lead, arsenic and eight
other dangerous compounds for six years. The finding also
suggests that the state of Arizona, which has primary
responsibility for federal Clean Air Act enforcement in the
state, has failed to take meaningful action. The EPA revealed
the existence of the Nov. 10 finding to NPR and The Center for
Public Integrity (CPI) as they were concluding a joint, six-
month-long investigation of air pollution and regulation in
Hayden as part of the Poisoned Places series. In a statement to
NPR and CPI, Asarco says the EPA's finding is "unexpected" and
promises a vigorous challenge. "Our smelter is i