08/15/2008 GAAS:610:08 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Print Version | Email / Share
Gov. Schwarzenegger Applauds Border States Joining Tire Initiative to Protect Health and Environment in Border Region
Continuing this year's Border Governors Conference (BGC)
focus on the environment, today Governor Schwarzenegger applauded Border States for taking
a substantial step toward decreasing the hazardous tire piles along the border
region by signing a Letter of Understanding (LOU) to formally join the
U.S.-Mexico Border Scrap Tire Integrated Management Initiative (Tire
Initiative).
"Tire piles pose a serious threat to public health and
the environment," Governor Schwarzenegger said. "Increased cooperation between
our states and federal governments is needed, which is why I'm so pleased to
announce that we have committed to working together to tackle the problem of
millions of abandoned scrap tires-laying the groundwork to get rid of tire piles
for good."
Tire piles leak contaminants into the soil and water
supply, are a breeding ground for mosquitoes and rodents that can cause West
Nile Virus, dengue fever and malaria, and when lit on fire, as has often
occurred, can burn for weeks, emitting thick, noxious smoke into the
air-severely contaminating the atmosphere.
The U.S. EPA and Mexican Ministry of Environment and
Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) came together in October 2006 to jointly sign the
Tire Initiative. Building on that agreement, the environmental secretaries of
all 10 Border
States today signed an LOU to initiate cross-border
partnership and agreed to work together to create a cleaner, safer and more
beautiful border region specifically related to the problem of tire piles. The
Tire Initiative outlines guidelines for the safe removal of existing tire piles,
the prevention of future tire piles and the creation of a market for waste
tires, while involving stakeholders and communities in clean-up efforts.
In addition, U.S. EPA and SEMARNAT have agreed to fund a
new study and pilot project that will provide recommendations on how to address
the region's scrap tire problem in the most environmental and economically
viable way. Building upon previous projects to address this problem, the
findings of this study will provide information to better deal with tire piles
and future scrap tires.
The LOU signed today adds to California's successful
waste-tire recycling efforts. California diverts 75 percent of its estimated
waste tires each year to make Rubberized Asphalt Concrete on roads, crumb rubber
playgrounds, landscape maintenance, alternative daily cover for landfills and
for engineering purposes.
