Quinn OKs bill granting EPA new oversight over tire storage

SPRINGFIELD—On the anniversary of a tire-induced, month-long fire, Gov. Pat Quinn Thursday signed legislation granting state environmental regulators more oversight on tire storage.

The legislation, pushed by state Sen. Michael Frerichs, D-Champaign, was a response to a fire at J&R Used Tire Service in Hoopeston, near the Illinois-Indiana border, which burned for weeks because of the accumulation of tires. The cleanup of debris and demolition of surrounding structures took until November, around five months, to complete.

“We were able to quickly respond to last year’s tire fire in Hoopeston and institute new guidelines to prevent other communities from experiencing similar accidents,” said Frerichs, the Democratic candidate for state treasurer. “This new law will help save state funds that would otherwise have to be spent on environmental clean-up.”

Senate Bill 2671, which was signed into law on the anniversary of the Hoopeston fire, requires tire storage locations with more than 10,000 passenger tires, or that process 500 tons of used tires in a calendar year, to get a solid waste permit. This permit lets the IEPA inspect tire facilities, which will need to develop storage plans in order to operate. It also allows the IEPA to explore new markets for used tires.

“This new law will help safeguard against any disaster of this magnitude and ensure our communities are protected,” Quinn said. “It will protect the environment and homeowners, and help find alternative uses for used and waste tires.”