Final preparations ahead of April date with the explosives experts.
After months of controversy, the iconic Asarco Smelter smokestacks are finally set to be demolished within the first week of April. Because of the university’s close proximity to the demolition site and the nature of the stacks’ removal, UTEP stands as a possible affected area when the day comes.
“Our goal is to try to make sure that the dust that’s created by the explosion doesn’t get past the perimeter of the drop zone,” said Robert Puga, custodial trustee of the Asarco cleanup project. “I will be coordinating closely with UTEP’s Vice President Ricardo Adauto to make sure he knows when we’re going to do this, to make sure that we answer any questions that administration may have, and to make sure that if they have any concerns we will address them.”
“What we’re doing is essentially creating a corridor or burr—which is essentially a dirt wall—around the fall zone which will collect dust and then send it upwards as opposed to laterally,” Puga said. “We’re also trying to set up the water system to exaggerate the air in the fall zone with water droplets so that when you drop the stacks into the zone, the water droplets absorb the dust and that will cushion out the effect. There is also a small mountain between the fall zone and UTEP which will act as secondary protection.”
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