August 28, 2006

On August 24, 2006, Judge Susan Grant of the 77th District Court, Mecosta County, sentenced Alternative Fuels L.L.C., of Barryton to pay fines and costs amounting to $26,396.49 after a jury issued a guilty verdict for Alternate Fuels’ improper disposal of scrap tires at a non-compliant disposal site.

“Improperly disposed scrap tires pose a serious threat to Michigan’s environment and our public health,” said DEQ Director Steven E. Chester. “We must ensure that those who would put the well-being of our communities at risk are held accountable for their actions.”

This case was a result of a criminal investigation initiated by the DEQ's Office of Criminal Investigations and prosecuted by the Department of Attorney General after DEQ staff determined that Alternative Fuels had illegally disposed of scrap tires at a non-compliant disposal site.

"There's a reason these laws are on the books: to safeguard and protect Michigan's environment," Attorney General Mike Cox said. "I commend the Department of Environmental Quality for a thorough investigation that helped bring about a successful prosecution of this case."

Illegally disposed and improperly managed scrap tires can result in public health, environmental, and aesthetic problems for many communities. A single tire can serve as a breeding ground for thousands of mosquitoes each year, largely because of the standing rain water and snow melt that collects in whole tires. These mosquitoes can carry and transmit numerous diseases, including West Nile Virus. Consistent enforcement of Michigan’s scrap tire law helps to prevent these hazards, and helps to ensure a level playing field for those who voluntarily comply with the law.

Editor’s note: DEQ news releases are available on the department’s Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

“Protecting Michigan’s Environment, Ensuring Michigan’s Future”

Revised August 28, 2006 by Linda Crawford for Pat Watson