DNR HOPES TO SEE TIRE-STORAGE SITE CLEANED UP

BENTON -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is working to correct an illegal storage of old tires near Benton.

The mounds of tires two miles east of Benton along Highway 77 are in violation of waste-site regulations, said Pat Dwyer, a DNR environmental specialist.

John Stephenson, owner of SEMO Waste Management, which is storing the tires, has a tire-hauling permit that allows him to accept waste tires from area businesses; however, terms of an agreement on disposal of the tires have not been met.

In May more than 100,000 tires were stored at the site. It is illegal to keep more than 500 tires at a site for more than 30 days.

"We are trying to continue working with him and bringing it into compliance," Dwyer said.

In May DNR officials agreed to renew Stephenson's tire-hauling permit but requested that he reduce the number of tires by Aug. 1. According to terms of the agreement, Stephenson had to shred all the tires on the site, remove 1,000 tires more than he accepted each month, and obtain contracts for disposing of the tires already on the site.

Almost two months later all terms have not been met, Dwyer said, adding that there are only a few tire recycling businesses.

Asked about the agreement, Stephenson told a Southeast Missourian reporter who visited the site to "get out of here and don't take any pictures."

There are only six legal waste-tire sites across the state and one permit has been temporarily suspended.

The DNR prefers to work out agreements rather than revoke a license, said Dwyer.

"They get in over their heads and the next thing you know they've got an illegal site," Dwyer said. "If we revoke the hauler's license then the taxpayers end up footing the bill."

The Scott County Commission doesn't have much authority in the matter. "We'd like to see them cleaned up, but it's between him and DNR," said Scott County Presiding Commissioner Bob Kielhofner.