Springfield—(ENEWSPF)—September 6, 2012. Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced today a multi-count complaint has been filed against a Champaign County tire recycler for allegedly leaving thousands of uncovered used tires outdoors in violation of state environmental safety standards. Health officials warn that water accumulates in the tires and creates a breeding ground for mosquitoes that carry the West Nile virus.
Since April 2009, numerous inspections by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency at Astro Tire Removal, 905 N. Church St., in Thomasboro, revealed an increasing number of tires stacked in piles and scattered about the property. Illinois EPA inspectors reported some of the waste tires were covered by overgrown vegetation.
“Essentially, this business is an open dump in violation of Illinois law,” Madigan said. “I’m filing this complaint to ensure that the public health concerns at this site are addressed effectively.”
In addition to alleged open dumping violations, Madigan’s complaint alleges that Astro Tire Removal failed to document it had the financial resources to process the used tires and legally remove them from the site. Each of the six counts carries a possible civil penalty of $50,000 and $10,000 per day the violations continue.
Assistant Attorney General Raymond Callery is handling the case for Madigan’s Environmental Bureau.
Source: illinoisattorneygeneral.gov
