To save the smokestacks or not to save the smokestacks? That was a heavily debated question, but after a proposal for saving the smokestacks was not submitted to the ASARCO Trust in time, they will be demolished, according to the site's trustee.

Robert Puga, ASARCO custodial trustee announced Wednesday "Because a feasible proposal for saving the stacks, meeting the important criteria that was set forth last year, was not submitted to the Trust, the Trust is resuming the planning for the stacks' demolition.

"The ASARCO Trust would like to commend the Save the Stacks Group for all of their hard work during the past 13 months. Their passion for saving the stacks is truly admirable," Puga said in a news release.

Some El Pasoans are glad to see the smokestacks will come down after all these years.

"I attended UTEP back in the 60s and it was an awful memory for me," said Mariana Rush. "Walking up and down the hills of the education buildings, you could taste and feel it in your throat."

An engineering team will produce a demolition schedule that will be published on www.RecastingTheSmelter.com. A public meeting to discuss the process will be scheduled for the first quarter of next year.