Michigan Accepting Applications for Scrap Tire Grant Money

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality announced the availability of funding under its Scrap Tire Cleanup Grant Program. Since the program began 12 years ago the state DEQ has issued more than $9.5 million in grants to clean up tire piles in the state.

Property owners with abandoned scrap tires and scrap tires at collection sites are eligible for funding assistance under this program. The DEQ will give priority to funding activities at collection sites in which the scrap tires were accumulated prior to January 1, 1991, and at collection sites that pose an imminent threat to public health, safety, welfare, or the environment.

 “The Scrap Tire Cleanup Grant Program has made significant progress toward the removal of stockpiled scrap tires throughout Michigan,” said Steven Chester, DEQ director. “These cleanups provide a real benefit to communities by reducing potential public health and environmental concerns associated with scrap tire sites as well as encouraging the redevelopment of these sites.”

The DEQ will reimburse owners of selected scrap tire collection sites for expenses incurred for the transportation of scrap tires from a selected site, the processing of scrap tires by a Michigan scrap tire processor, and the delivery of scrap tires by the processor to an approved end-user.

The application and all supporting documents must be received or postmarked on or before Friday, October 21, 2005. Applications cannot be accepted by e-mail or fax.

To receive an application, please contact the Scrap Tire Regulatory Program, Waste and Hazardous Materials Division, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, P.O. Box 30241, Lansing, Michigan 48909-7741, at 517-335-4924; or an application packet may be downloaded from the DEQ Web site at http://www.michigan.gov/deq.