MEADVILLE – The Department of Environmental Protection has ordered a Clarion County couple to stop accepting waste tires on their property in Ashland Township. It has also told a Crawford County used tire collector and processor to cease disposing of material at that location.
Gerald L. Richards of Titusville, Crawford County, along with W. Dean and Darlene K. Weaver of Ashland Township, are also required to remove and dispose of approximately 2,000 tires now stored at a site
The order was issued after Richards and the Weavers failed to apply for a permit, which is required for waste tire operations.
“Pennsylvania has made real progress in cleaning up old tire piles across the state,” said DEP Regional Director Kelly Burch. “Now that we have effective laws and regulations, we are working hard to enforce them so we can prevent any additional piles from threatening our environment.”
The Weaver property is at the intersection of routes 322 and 338. There, Mr. Weaver allowed Richards to store and process used tires generated from his used tire collection business.
On March 21, DEP inspectors counted approximately 2,000 used tires at the property. In addition, the inspectors noted an unknown quantity of tire sidewalls, which is defined as a residual waste under Pennsylvania’s solid waste regulations.
DEP permits are required to collect, process and store waste tires and to process tire scraps. Richards and the Weavers do not have permits, so the department issued a Notice of Violation on April 12.
In the orders issued today, the two parties are to remove all of the waste at the Clarion County property by Oct. 26, and to transport the material to a facility authorized to accept, dispose, process and/or recycle the tires and tire pieces.
DEP also issued a separate order to Richards to stop collecting and hauling used tires without an authorization.
By Oct. 31, Richards and the Weavers are to provide DEP with copies of receipts showing the total number of waste tires and tire pieces removed from the site, and the name and address of the waste tire hauler and authorized facility where the material was taken.
Approximately 12 million waste tires are generated in Pennsylvania each year. Improperly stockpiled tires create environmental hazards, such as tire fires, and provide breeding areas for mosquitoes and vermin.