Napolitano: Cut Hayden Some Slack: Says Superfund Listing Would Be ‘Premature’
By Gabriela Rico, The Arizona Daily Star, Tucson
Sep. 21–Gov. Janet Napolitano said Thursday that it is “premature” to designate the mining town of Hayden a Superfund site and requested a six-month delay on making a final decision.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed placing Hayden on the National Priorities List after its investigation found potentially toxic levels of arsenic, lead and copper in the town.
Last week, Tucson-based Asarco LLC, which operates the Hayden smelter, sent a letter to the EPA and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality offering to enter a three-way agreement to investigate the contamination and clean up the community.
The mining company was “extremely pleased” by the governor’s decision, Doug McAllister, the company’s executive vice president and general counsel, said in a news release.
“We believe this approach is the best way to conduct the cleanup quickly, efficiently and with the least adverse impact on the affected communities,” he said. “Asarco is committed to doing the right thing for Hayden and our family of employees there. We are eager to finalize the agreement and start work on the remediation process.”
Napolitano said she wants the EPA to wait until March 31 to make its final decision on Hayden in order to consider Asarco’s approach.
“This would provide ample time for the EPA, in close coordination with ADEQ, to enter into an agreement with Asarco to conduct remedial actions in lieu of listing” on the priority list, the governor wrote in her letter to the EPA. “This arrangement would be in the public interest, as private funds, not taxpayer funds, would be used for cleanup.” The EPA’s position has not changed.
John Hillenbrand, remedial-project manager for the EPA’s Region 9 Superfund division, said the agency still believes the site cleanup should be under the supervision of the federal government, but said it is “willing to take part in discussions led by ADEQ.”
The state is responsive to Asarco’s overture.
“There’s been encouraging representation about their willingness to step forward,” said Steve Owens, ADEQ director. “Over the next six months, we’ll see what Asarco is willing to do.”
He stressed that any agreement will be “legally enforceable” and said officials from Asarco contacted the state Thursday to express their eagerness to begin discussions.
During a public hearing Aug. 27, some Hayden residents expressed faith in Asarco to clean up the area, while others requested federal intervention. Union members gave the company their support to lead the cleanup.
–Contact reporter Gabriela Rico at 573-4232 or grico@azstarnet.com.
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