EPA Proposes Pollution Controls at Freeport Miami Smelter and 5 Other Facilities

The US Envornmental Protection Agency is proposing pollution controls at six facilities in Arizona to improve visibility at national parks and wilderness areas.

The EPA is proposing a plan to limit emissions such as nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide at facilities including Freeport McMoRan’s Miami smelter and ASARCO’s Hayden smelter.

The EPA estimates this would reduce sulfur dioxide by almost 30,000 tons a year and nitrogen oxides by 3,100 tons a year.

The EPA will hold public hearings on February 25 in Phoenix and on February 26 in Tucson. The agency will accept comments for 45 days after publication in the Federal Register.

Supervisors Proclaim Family Day September 27

Gila County joins a growing national movement called “Family Day--A Day to Eat Dinner With Your Children” on Monday, September 27. Research has consistently found that the more often children eat dinner with their families, the less likely they are to smoke, drink or use drugs. Family Day encourages parents to have frequent family dinners as an effective way to prevent kids from using substances.

Family Day was created in 2001 by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University. It is celebrated every year on the fourth Monday in September.