Louisiana Company Contracted To Clean Up Millions Of Tires

The contract approved by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality requires Merrick Construction Co., based in Cottonport, La., to haul at least 60 percent of the scrap tire to a new location where it can be used in recycling projects or by paper and pulp mills as fuel, according to the agency.

The rest of the 150-acres of rubber will be buried at the site as part of a half-and-half mix with soil. Tires will be placed in an engineered land remediation structure and covered by 18-inches of soil.

The state took over the site near the Louisiana border after it was abandoned by engineer Bud Gibson, who filed for bankruptcy after a failed recycling business. The site opened in 1991.

"We are confident this contract will result in the cleanup of the Gibson site, which has been the subject of so much concern to the local community," said Margaret Hoffman, TCEQ executive director, said in Monday's editions of the Texarkana Gazette.

Environmental experts say the mounds of shredded, crumbled and whole tires, stacked up to 25 feet high, pose a fire hazard. Residents had feared the rubber still could catch fire underground, contaminating ground water.

Georgia Lawson, who owns the property where the tire dump sits, said she and her family are against burying any of the tires, even if they are contained.

Rebecca Clayton, chairman of the Cass County Environmental Protection Committee, had also opposed burying the tires. But she said she was content with the state's plan and credited community involvement with getting the contract approved Feb. 11.

"We ... are excited about this company coming in and doing something productive," Clayton said.

Under the contract, Merrick should have a fire control plan by one year, and the whole site must be cleaned within three years.  - The Associated Press