"DALLAS -- A southeast Texas industrial plant is scrapping plans to import and incinerate 20,000 tons of hazardous materials from Mexico, the facility's general manager said Wednesday.

Veolia Environmental Services' industrial incinerator in Port Arthur -- which gained national attention in 2007 for importing and burning waste from a military nerve agent -- was seeking an exemption to a federal rule prohibiting the import of the chemical waste. The company has been in the application process to burn imported polychlorinated byphenyls, or PCBs, since 2006.

The company cited the economy for its decision to abandon the plan, but environmental groups claimed victory in stopping the area from becoming a 'dumping ground for the world.'"

John McFarland reports for the Associated Press November 18, 2009. [2]