Will the EPA save El Paso from Asarco pollution after Texas said ok?

There appears to be new hope that Asarco will not reopen its copper smelter in El Paso, no thanks to our own state agency, but thanks to the federal government. Indications are the Environmental Protection Agency will soon greatly tighten health standards for allowable airborne lead -- cutting back 93 percent.

Earlier this year, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality voted to renew Asarco's air-discharge permit, noting the smelter met air-quality standards. The permit allows Asarco to emit some 4.7 tons of lead into our air each year.

The EPA, which has oversight powers over state air-quality agencies, questioned that decision. And on Thursday, it said much-tougher standards will likely be in place by early fall.

The EPA said standards need to be toughened because the present lead health standard is 30 years old.

It's hard to imagine any Republican run agency gives a cr*p. What's in it for them?