Ohio EPA Orders Company to Remove Scrap Tires

The Ohio EPA has ordered Crestline Auto Wrecking, Inc., to remove an estimated 285,000 scrap tires from its property in Crestline, Ohio. The company has 120 days to clean the 42-acre property.

Ohio law prohibits the open dumping of scrap tires. Facilities storing scrap tires must follow strict guidelines on their storage and disposal and must obtain a license unless the facility qualifies for an exemption.

Since March 5, 2004, five inspections by Ohio EPA and the Mansfield/Ontario/Richland County Health Department noted numerous violations, including open dumping of solid waste, failure to have scrap tire piles no greater than 2,500 square feet, failure to maintain fire lanes, failure to provide mosquito control measures and establishing a scrap tire facility without registration.

On August 16, 2004, the health department ordered the company to implement mosquito controls, establish storage piles and fire lanes that meet code and begin removing all scrap tires to a legal disposal facility, all within 30 days. The company was to file monthly reports of its progress. The company has not complied.

In addition to removing tires from the site, Ohio EPA has ordered the company to implement mosquito control measures and establish proper storage piles and fire lanes. These must be maintained until all tires are removed.