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Department of Ecology News Release - August 11, 2005
05-205
YAKIMA - The Washington Department of Ecology has issued a penalty of $24,000 to Michael Alberg, Thomas Alberg, and El Rancho Kittitas LLC., for burning tires and other prohibited materials in an outdoor fire at 800 Shale Pit Road in Kittitas County in 2004.
On Feb. 25, 2004, Kittitas County firefighters responded to a fire at the property where they found a large pit filled with tires and other garbage burning. The fire burned for three days.
"Tire fires are particularly dangerous," explained Sue Billings, an air quality manager for Ecology. "Not only are they difficult to put out, they emit extremely toxic, cancer-causing compounds to the air, posing health hazards to firefighters, neighbors, and downwind residents. And they contaminate the land with oily residue."
Michael Alberg also was fined $10,000 in 1998 for burning automobile tires at the same location, Billings said. He paid that penalty.
In addition, the Albergs have been cited for failing to take reasonable precautions to prevent the fire and for continuing to store more than 6,000 tires at the rural Kittitas County site.
The Albergs have 30 days to pay the penalty, apply for relief from the penalty or appeal the penalty to the state Pollution Control Hearings Board.
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Media contact: Joye Redfield-Wilder, public information manager, (509) 575-2610
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
