New Mexico fines waste tyre handler $119k

ERJ staff report (DS)

Santa Fe, New Mexico - The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) has settled an Administrative Compliance Order (“ACO”) issued in 2003 to Southwest Tire Processors (“STP”) and its operators - Jeanne M. Romero Gacanich and Moises Romero. The settlement included payment of a $119,229 (euro 92,600) civil penalty.

The NMED's 2003 ACO alleged serious operational, safety and permit-related violations of the Solid Waste Act and Regulations at STP's tire recycling facility located southwest of Socorro, New Mexico. The alleged violations included the unsafe storage of an excessive number of scrap tires, bales or processed rubber near or underneath electrical power lines.

The tyre recycling facility was consumed in a catastrophic fire, which occurred in June, 2000. The incident resulted in a response by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which assisted by overseeing partial extinguishment of the fire by on-site burial of the burning rubber with heavy equipment using locally-acquired soil. Hot spots and flare ups continued for several years after the site was covered with soil.

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Press release from NMED