BORDER SCRAP TIRE PROJECT ACTION PLANS U.S.- MEXICO BORDER SCRAP TIRE INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE PRDJ Cl OWNERS Border 2012 New Mexico-Chihuahua Rural Task Force Border Legislative Conference California Environmental Protection Agency-Office of Border Affairs California Integrated Waste Management Board City of Eagle Pass, Texas City of San Diego Solid Waste Local Enforcement Agency Endpoint Environmental Pan American Health Organization San Diego State University San Francisco State University Secretary of the Secretariat for the Environment and Natural Resources Silent Running Rubber Manufacturers Association University of Texas U.S. Environmental Protection Agency February 2008 The Border Scrap Tire Project Action Plans are descriptions of border scrap tire projects that are occurring throughout the U.S.- Mexico border region. ------- TABL: OF CONTENTS Introd uction ................... .^:. [[[ 3 ^^Z^^ Principle One: Scrap Tire Generation [[[ 4 Inventory of Tire Piles Along the U.S. -Mexico Border [[[ 5 Locating/Inventorying Waste Tire Piles in El Paso/Juarez Region Using Aerial Imagery ..... 6 Remote Sensing of Waste Tires in the California/Mexico Border Region ......................... 7 Use of Satellite Technology to Locate/Monitor Tire Piles for CA/CA-Mexico Border Region . 8 Border Tire Health Study [[[ 9 Tire Flow Study along the California-Mexico Border Region ....................................... 10 Used/Waste Tire Flow Study in the California-Mexico Border Region ........................... 11 A Study of Passenger, Light Truck and SUV, Used Tire Economics in the California/AZ and Baja California Norte/Sonora Border Region ................................................ 12 Principle Two: Scrap Tire Pile Prevention [[[ 13 SEMARNAT Scrap Tire Management Document [[[ 14 U.S. -Mexico Scrap Tire Management Experiences Handbook ..................................... 15 U.S. -Mexican BorderTire Management Regulations ................................................. 16 Training Seminars on Developing Scrap Tire Markets ............................................... 17 Principle Three: Scrap Tire Pile Cleanup [[[ 18 Cleanup of El Centinela Scrap Tire Pile [[[ 19 Cleanup of Ciudad Juarez Scrap Tire Pile [[[ 20 Cleanup of Sonora Border Scrap Tire Pile [[[ 21 Cleanup of Piedras Negras / Eagle Pass Scrap Tire Pile ............................................. 22 Grant for Cleanup of Waste Tires in the Tijuana River Valley ..................................... 23 Grant for Waste Tire Cleanup of Tijuana River Channels ........................................... 24 Principle Four: Scrap Tire Management Participation ...................................... 25 ------- INTRODUCTION The Border Scrap Tire Action Action Plans are descriptions of border scrap tire projects currently being implemented throughout the U.S.-Mexico border region. A mechanism for educating interested parties of border scrap tire activities, they foster collaboration between scrap tire projects, and aid in assessing the needs for further projects. Currently, there are twenty-four scrap tire projects listed. The project descriptions will be updated and new projects will be added as they are initiated. For a detailed description of contributors to the Project Action Plans, see Appendix One. Background The Project Action Plans were initiated in 2006 as a supplement to the U.S.-Mexico Border Scrap Tire Integrated Management Initiative document. The Initiative, an official Border 2012 Program document, provides a scrap tire management framework for the two counties to implement using a sustainable development vision. The Initiative establishes a clear and consistent under- standing of shared scrap tire management principles, and provides direction for the major program actions necessary to effectively manage scrap tires. Structure of Project Action Plans The Scrap Tire Project Action Plans document shares details of each project including a description, expected outcomes, a timeframe for project completion, the responsible organization with contact information, and the project's funding source. The projects are organized under the U.S.-Mexico Border Scrap Tire Integrated Management Initiative's principles and actions. For a list of the Principles and Actions, see Appendix Two and Three. Contact For further information or to update or include additional project descriptions, )lease contact Ellie Kanipe (kanipe.ellie@epa.gov, 703-347-8985). ------- PRINCIPLE ONE SCRAP TIRE GENERATION U.S.- MEXICO BORDER SCRAP TIRE INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE PURPOSE Better understand the problems contributing to scrap tire generation. ACTION 1 Gather information to better understand scrap tire generation (including sources of substandard tires and illegal tire entry into Mexico), illegal dumping of scrap tires, and methods for effective management of scrap tires. BACKGROUND Throughout the border region, a significant number of scrap tire piles exist containing millions of scrap tires. The tire piles tend to result from a robust market for partially used tires in the border region. Less expensive than new tires, these partially used tires have a short life, thus contributing to the large accumulation of scrap tires in the border region. The generation of scrap tires is expected to increase along the U.S.- Mexico border as population rates continue to accelerate. In the U.S., over 290 million scrap tires are generated annually. In Mexico City it is estimated that 5 million scrap tires are generated per year. The majority of these tires are used as tire derived fuel, or are applied in civil engineering and crumb rubber applications. In order to address this growing problem, it is necessary to better understand the problems contributing to scrap tire generation. ------- PROJECT ONE Inventory of Tire Piles along U.S.-Mexico Border DESCRIPTION The EPA and SEMARNAT worked jointly with state and local governments to identify locations, classify size, and determine ownership of major tire piles in the U.S.-Mexico border region. The tire piles were identified through interviews with border residents, state governments and national scrap tire experts. E X P E C T E D 0 U T C 0 M E S The purpose of the project is to inventory major scrap tire piles in the entire U.S.-Mexico border region. The inventory will aid in the development of recycling options for scrap tires. For example, the inventory will allow the Border 2012 Waste Policy Forum to determine which tire piles are near scrap tire shredders and municipal waste landfills so that scrap tire shreds can be used as "daily cover" at nearby landfills. TIMING The EPA and SEMARNAT, collaborating with state and local governments, have completed the inventory document. The inventory document can be found at http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/tires/publications.htm. ORGANIZATIONS EPA Office of Solid Waste Ellie Kanipe; kanipe.ellie(Q)epa.aov FUNDING SOURCE EPA Office of Solid Waste ------- PROJECT TWO Locating and Inventorying Waste Tire Piles in El Paso/Juarez Region Using Aerial Imagery D ESCRIPTION Researchers at the University of Texas are exploring the potential of deciphering the color spectrums in aerial photography and satellite imagery to locate unknown tire piles and to estimate the size of these piles. EXPECTED OUTCOMES Although field visits confirming results have yet to be completed, researchers have used the software program ERDAS to locate unknown tire piles in the El Paso/ Juarez region. ERDAS can take the color information from a known tire pile and match it to all other objects in an aerial image that have similar color bands. However, this means that shadows, pavement, and other dark objects do appear as false positives in the process. Researchers plan to explore the potential of using LIDAR technology to measure depth, thus eliminating false positives caused by these sources. TIMING Completion of the project is expected in 2007. ORGANIZATIONS University of Texas David Eaton Phd.; eaton@mail.utexas.edu FUNDING SOURCE EPA Region 6 ------- PROJECT THREE Remote Sensing of Waste Tires Project in the California/Mexico Border Region DESCRIPTION Endpoint Environmental, working with San Francisco State University in a project sponsored by the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB), is mapping areas of Northern California and the California/Mexico border region for tire pile sites. To create the maps of tire pile sites, Endpoint Environmental leverages the Tire Identification from Reflectance (TIRe) Model. The TIRe Model is a computer-assisted image-processing algorithm invented at NASA's Ames Research Center in a proof-of-concept project funded by CIWMB in 2005. E PECTED OUTCOMES ^ The TIRe Model is designed to identify densely grouped tire piles of 100 tires or more in commercially available high-resolution satellite imagery. False- positives are attributed to shadows, polluted water bodies, and objects with tire-material content such as roof-shingles or polyethylene tubing. Endpoint Environmental staff separate false-positives from suspected tire piles using visual-interpretation techniques. During the course of the project, San Fran- cisco State University will be refining the TIRe Model to further reduce false- positives. Endpoint Environmental is constructing a series of maps for CIWMB. Satellite imagery is used as a "background" in small-scale maps to clearly display tire pile sites. TIMING Completion of the project is expected mid-2008. ORGANIZATIONS Endpoint Environmental Catherine Huybrechts; catherine@endointenvrionmental.com California Integrated Waste Management Board Darryl L. Petker P.E.; dpetker@ciwmb.ca.gov San Francisco State University Dr. Patricia "Trish" Foschi; tfoschi@sfsu.edu FUNDING SOURCE California Integrated Waste Management Board ------- PROJECT FOUR Use of Satellite Technology to Locate and Monitor Waste Tire Piles in California and the California- Mexico Border Region DESCRIPTION This project will use satellite imagery to find illegal tire piles within the state of California. Due to its geographical proximity, the California-Mexico border zone will also be an area of focus for the purpose of locating and monitoring waste tire piles that may pose a threat to California communities. w EXPECTED OUTCOMES The final report associated with this project will provide the following information: A list of known and suspected tire pile locations. Imagery, photos and maps obtained / used to deliver results for the evaluation. Suggestions for future areas to be evaluated. Suggestions for future enhancement to current methodology. TIMING The final report associated with this project will be completed by June 2008. ORGANIZATIONS California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) Darryl Petker; dpetker@ciwmb.ca.gov California Environmental Protection Agency-Office of Border Affairs (Cal/EPA-OBA) Ricardo Martinez; RMartinez@waterboards.ca.gov FUNDING SOURCE California Tire Recycling Management Fund ------- LU _l 0_ O PROJECT FIVE Border Tire Pile Health Study: Human-Environmental Interaction and the Effect of Waste Tire Removal on Risk for Dengue Fever Infection in Brownsville, Texas and Matamoros, Tamaulipas DESCRIPTION The Border 2012 Program Health Task Force is working with the EPA's Office of Re- search Development and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in assessing the health risks of tire piles along the U.S.-Mexico border. Specifically, the 2012 Health Task Force, working with the 2012 Waste Policy Forum, is overseeing a study that will investigate the recent outbreak of dengue hemorrhagic fever in Brownsville, Texas and Matamoros, Tamaulipas and its relation to the scrap tire piles. - Because dengue fever is transmitted by an urban mosquito, examination of waste tires as water-holding containers in close proximity to households is critical to under- standing the potential roles that tires play in mosquito breeding sites. PECTED OUTCOMES This study will provide relevant environmental health data regarding tire piles along the U.S.-Mexico border. This data can be used when considering fed- eral, state, and local-level options to administer scrap tire management pro- grams, and in educational campaigns directed toward preventing the creation of new scrap tire piles. E MING Completion is estimated by the end of 2007. RGANIZATIONS :Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) EPA Contact: Ellie Kanipe; kanipe.ellie@epa.gov FUNDING SOURCE EPA Office of Research and Development and PAHO ------- PROJECT SIX Tire Flow Study along the California-Mexico Border Region DESCRIPTION San Diego State University's Institute for Regional Studies of the Californias is con- ducting a study on the flow of used tires in the California-Mexico border region. The study will describe and quantify the flow of used tires across the border, will evaluate the legal and regulatory framework as well as the economics of tire flows, will assess environmental impacts of used and scrap tires, will discuss recycling efforts, and will describe the final disposition of scrap tires in Baja California and Mexico. EX P E C T E D 0 U T C 0 M E S This study will develop a methodology to estimate the number of used and waste tires that have been transported from California to Mexico since 2000. Data will also be collected concerning the locations of existing tire piles. Estimates will be made regarding the number of tires that are sold, reused, and disposed of in the California-Mexico bor- der region. The economic focus will include the costs to transport tires, revenue from the sale of tires, costs of tire disposal, and costs to remediate disposal sites as well as respond to possible waste tire pile fires. The environmental focus will evaluate the im- pacts of possible tire pile fires and will assess possible human health hazards associated with disease vectors in tire piles. Furthermore, the study will evaluate the existing regu- latory structure used by California and Mexico to manage used tires in the region, in- cluding current waste tire policies, laws, regulations, and procedures. Finally, the study will provide suggestions and options for consideration by policy makers on tire related issues. The summary description, analysis, and recommendations will be published for wide distribution. TIMING This study's completion is expected by May 2008. ORGANIZATIONS *San Diego State University, Institute for Regional Studies of the Californias Paul Ganster, Ph.D.; pganster@mail.sdsu.edu Bertha Hernandez, M.A.; bhernand@mail.sdsu.edu FUNDING SOURCE California Integrated Waste Management BoardCIWMB Darryl L. Petker P.E. Contract Manager; dpetker@ciwmb.ca.gov 10 ------- PROJECT SEVEN Used/Waste Tire Flow Study in the California- Mexico Border Region DESCRIPTION This project consists of a study to determine the flow of reusable and waste tires in the California-Mexico border region. Through this project, the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB), in partnership with the California Environmental Protection-Office of Border Affairs (Cal/EPA-OBA), shall hire a contractor to prepare a technical report. EXPECTED OUTCOMES The report will contain information regarding the following border-specific issues con- cerning used and waste tires: Identify the quantities of reusable and waste tires transported into Mexico from California, both legally and illegally, since 2000. Of the total tires transported into Mexico, quantify the number of tires sold for reuse, as well as those properly and illegally disposed of at landfills and dumpsites. Identify final disposal destination of waste tires that are being transported from Cali- fornia into Mexico. Discuss the economic impact to California and Mexico of the waste tire flow from California into Mexico. Make recommendations regarding changes to the current California and Baja California waste tire policies, laws, regulations and procedures. Identify, evaluate and make recommendations regarding potential markets for tire- derived products in Mexico. Identify, evaluate and make recommendations regarding appropriate tire disposal alternatives in the California-Mexico border region. TIMING This CIWMB-Cal/EPA-OBA project will be the emphasis of a workshop entailed "Used and Waste Tire Flow in the California-Mexico Border Region." The workshop will be on March 4-5, 2008 in San Diego. For further information, contact Reynaldo Rojo (rrojo@projects.sdsu.edu or 619-594-5423.) ORGANIZATIONS California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) Mitch Delmage; mdelmage@ciwmb.ca.gov California Environmental Protection Agency-Office of Border Affairs (Cal/EPA-OBA) Ricardo Martinez; RMartinez@waterboards.ca.gov FUNDING SOURCE 11 California Tire Recycling Management Fund ------- PROJECT EIGHT A Study of Passenger, Light Truck and SUV, Used Tire Economics in the California/AZ and Baja California Norte/Sonora Border Region DESCRIPTION Silent Running, a research and environmental advisory company, will evaluate the key economic factors that contribute to used tire flows from the U.S. to Mexico, focusing on economic drivers in California, Arizona, Baja California Norte, and Sonora. The study will include price comparisons between new and used tires in the U.S. and Mexico, the used tire value proposition, and an malysis of the retail tire industry structure in the U.S. and Mexico border region. EXPECTED OUTCOMES The findings of the study are intended to answer the following questions: For this geographic region, what are the economic underpinnings behind used tire flows from the U.S. and Mexico-particularly for the tire resale market? To what degree, if any, do tariffs, customs laws and practices, and government policy enhance or distort the market for the resale of used tires? For this geographic region, what is the quality and useful life of used tires being resold in the U.S. and Mexico? For this geographic region, to what degree would an increase or decrease of used tire flows from the U.S. to Mexico disrupt the Mexican retail tire industry? To what degree, if at all, do flows of used tires from the U.S. into Mexico contribute to scrap tire stockpiles in Mexico in this geographic region? 1 TIMING The study is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2008. ORGANIZATIONS Silent Running Jim Dodenhoff; jdodenhoff@ca.rr.com FUNDING SOURCE Project is self-funded. 12 ------- PRINCIPLE TWO SCRAP TIRE PILE PREVENTION U.S.- MEXICO BORDER SCRAP TIRE INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE PURPOSE Prevent new scrap tire piles. ACTION 2 Consider federal, state, and local-level regulatory options to administer scrap tire management programs to prevent new scrap tire piles. ACTION 3 Encourage development and implementation of a variety of environmentally acceptable and economically promising end-use markets for scrap tires to increase recycling and reuse. It is planned that this will be done through economic, regulatory, and technology development incentives. BACKGROUND | While the Border 2012 Program highlights cleaning-up tire piles, it is also critical to prevent the creation of new tire piles in the border region. This can be accomplished by establishing scrap tire management pro- grams aimed toward prevention, and by increasing scrap tire recycling by developing markets for tire-derived products. The U.S. and Mexico are collaborating to assess the optimal methods for preventing new scrap tire piles by analyzing tire-derived fuel projects, civil engineering applications, and crumb rubber applications, among other methods. 13 ------- PROJECT NINE SEMARNAT SCRAP TIRE MANAGEMENT DOCUMENT ESCRIPTION SEMARNAT is currently developing a Scrap Tire Management document which will serve as a framework for scrap tire programs in Mexico In 2003, SEMARNAT mandated that all of the States create or adjust their legal frame- work for waste management. At this point, Nuevo Leon is the first state to comply with creating a scrap tire program. EXPECTED OUTCOMES 10 TKI In the past, local governments in Mexico had lacked access to alternatives to dis- pose of scrap tires, a situation that for decades induced the pile-up of several million tires across the country's northern border, where the generation of this type of waste is especially intense. In response to this problem, the Mexican Federal Government, through the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, State Governments, Municipalities, the Ce- ment Industry and the US Environmental Protection Agency, coordinated efforts in order to start activities for the remediation of local waste-tire sites in the border Mexican States, accomplishing up to date the cleaning of up to 3 million tires, in- cluding the remediation of two sites whose tire inventories dated back several years, and which had repeatedly become ablaze over the years: INNOR and El Centinela. Such actions will greatly diminish health and environmental risks among communi- ties at both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, since waste tire build-up entails the risk of fires, is a source of toxic emissions and diseases, and encourages the use of waste tires as cheap fuel in brick ovens. In this context, the Scrap Tire Management Document will help to describe the ex- perience of the Scrap Tire Management Program that has been developed in the Northern Border region, in order to help other local governments to start activities of cleaning-up scrap tires in their cities and to prevent the generation of new scrap tires sites. IT i r TIMING The project is currently in its beginning stages. ORGANIZATIONS SEMARNAT Alexandra Gonzalez Narro; alexandra.gonzalez@semarnat.gob.mx FUNDING SOURCE SEMARNAT 14 ------- PROJECT TEN U.S.-Mexican Scrap Tire Management Experiences Handbook N The U.S.-Mexican Scrap Tire Management Experiences Handbook is being pre- pared to assist federal, state and local governments and private industry in developing and administering scrap tire programs. The Handbook will offer options to prevent future tire piles, cleanup existing tire piles, and foster mar- kets for the valuable resources contained in scrap tires. Technical, environ- mental, economic and reference data will be provided for major scrap tire applications. E X P E C T E D 0 U T C 0 M E S . The U.S.-Mexican Scrap Tire Management Experiences Handbook will aid in preventing further growth of existing scrap tire piles as well as the creation of new piles. The Handbook is intended to accelerate market development ef- forts by providing critical information about the North American market ex- perience and its potential applicability within both Mexico and the U.S. Addi- tionally, the Handbook will allow industry participants to assess, prioritize, tar- get and develop markets as efficiently and rapidly as possible. TIMING The U.S. EPA and SEMARNAT will finalize the Scrap Tire Management Experiences Handbook by the end of 2008. ORGANIZATIONS EPA Office of Solid Waste Rick Picardi; picardi.rick@epa.gov FUNDING SOURCE EPA Office of Solid Waste 15 ------- PROJECT ELEVEN LU CN U.S. - Mexican Border Tire Management Regulations C V ESCRIPTION The Border Legislative Conference, in collaboration with the EPA Region 9, is updating an existing Border Legislative Conference document which high- lights federal, state and local waste tire management regulations in both Mexico and the U.S. EXPECTED OUTCOMES The finished document highlighting waste tire management regulations will al- low for the analysis of waste tire regulations within the Border Legislative Con- ference and at the federal, state and local level. Eventually, the document will help federal, state and local legislators modify and/or create regulations to ad- dress the core waste tire management issues. ORGANIZATIONS Border Legislative Conference Edgar Ruiz; eruiz@csg.org EPA, Region 9 Emily Pimentel; Pimentel.emily@epa.gov UNDING SOURCE Border Legislative Conference and EPA Region 9 (San Francisco) 16 ------- PROJECT TWELVE Training Seminars on Developing Scrap Tire Markets N : The U.S. Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA), and border governments will work together to offer training seminars to promote the prevention of scrap tire piles along the U.S.-Mexican border. The proposed seminars will draw on Mexican and U.S. technical ex- pertise, and will be offered at different locations along the border. The key audience of the seminars will be potential entrepreneurs who are most likely to create the scrap tire recycling industry. The seminars will focus on providing the fundamentals of developing a scrap tire recycling industry with subject matter ranging from the necessities of starting a business, to tire processing, to the key scrap tire markets. X P E C T E D 0 U T C 0 M E S .. Since the training seminars will provide the necessary training on the basics of scrap tires, they will allow potential entrepreneurs the opportunity to learn the information they need to create the scrap tire recycling industry. TIMING Beginning spring 2007 RGANIZATIONS Rubber Manufacturers Association Michael Blumenthal; MBIumenthal@rma.org 17 ------- PRINCIPLE THREE SCRAP TIRE PILE CLEAN-UP U.S.- MEXICO BORDER SCRAP TIRE INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE PURPOSE Cleanup "legacy" (existing) tire piles using environmentally sound and cost effective solutions. ACTION 2 Consider federal, state, and local-level regulatory options to administer scrap tire management programs to cleanup legacy tire piles. ACTION 4 Abate tire piles by seeking funding to eliminate legacy scrap tire piles, and invest in and adequately manage temporary storage and transfer stations to facilitate recycling and/or reuse of scrap tires. B A C K G R 0 U N D Under the Reduce Land Contamination goal of the binational environmental Border 2012 Program, objective three addresses the cleanup of scrap tire piles. Specifically, the objective aims to cleanup three of the larger scrap tire sites in the U.S.-Mexico border region by 2010. Great strides have been made in achieving this objective with over 2.7 million tires having been cleaned-up along the border. Furthermore, 450,000 tires have been removed at the INNORTire Pile in Mexicali resulting in the pile's complete elimination. 18 ------- PROJECT THIRTEEN Cleanup of El Centinela Scrap Tire Pile Centinela, the scrap tire pile with 1.2 million abandoned tires, was ranked as one of the largest scrap tire piles in the border region. The Border 2012 scrap tire management partners identified Centinela as one of the largest tire piles. The cleanup of this tire pile was established as a target to meet Border 2012 Goal 3 to "cleanup three of the largest sites containing abandoned waste tires." The tires were transported to CENEX plants located in Ensenada and Hermosillo where they were then co-processed as tire derived fuel (TDF). The success of this cleanup is attributed to the ability of government, industry, and other partners to leverage their respective resources. E X P E C T E D 0 U T C 0 M E S Since tire piles pose environmental and health problems, the cleanup of the Centinela tire pile will significantly improve the environmental health of the area within the vicinity of the site. Centinela was one of the largest scrap tire piles in the border area; therefore, it has contributed to meeting Border 2012's scrap tire objective. T 1 M 1 N G In November 2006, EPA completed the cleanup. It began in June 2005 with the signature of the Annex of Execution No. 3 between SEMARNAT, the government of the State of Baja California, CANACEM and Cemex. ORGANIZATIONS . SEMARNAT Edgar De Villar; edgar.delvillar@semarnat.gob.mx EPA Region 9 (San Francisco, California) Emily Pimentel; Pimentel.emily(o)epa.qov FUNDING SOURCE EPA Region 9: $285,000 SEMARNAT: Over $100,000 plus in-kind donation of trucks/trains Government of Baja California: $100,000 CEMEX: in-kind donation - shredding of tires and co-processing as TDF City of Mexicali: in-kind donation - coordination support *AII Mexican quantities are taken from the Annexes of Execution between SEMARNAT and the State Governments, the Municipalities, Cemex or Cementos Chihuahua, and CANACEM. 19 ------- PROJECT FOURTEEN Cleanup of Ciudad Juarez Scrap Tire Pile N ^^^^^^^^ ~-- --" Nearly 3 million scrap tires have been removed from the Ciudad Juarez tire pile through the collective efforts of the U.S. EPA, SEMARNAT, the Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC), the City of Juarez, and GCC Cemento, A.A. de C.V., Samlayuca (the local cement plant). The 8-10 year old Ciudad Juarez tire pile site encompasses approximately four to five mil- lion scrap tires. EXPECTED OUTCOMES Since tire piles pose environmental and health problems, the cleanup of the Ciudad Juarez tire pile site will significantly improve the environmental health of the area within the vicinity of the site. The Ciudad Juarez site is one of the largest scrap tire piles in the border area; therefore, its cleanup will contribute to meeting Border 2012's scrap tire objective. TIMING The Ciudad Juarez tire pile is expected to be 100% cleaned-up during the next several years. ORGANIZATIONS . SEMARNAT Edgar De Villar; edgar.delvillar@semarnat.gob.mx EPA Region 6 (Dallas, Texas) Robert Snowbarger; Snowbarqer.robert(Q)epa.qov FUNDING SOURCE Government of Chihuahua: SEMARNAT: Government of Ciudad Juarez: EPA Office of International Affairs: $80,000 plus $30,000 this year $113,000 plus $60,000 this year $65,000 $60,000 *AII Mexican quantities are taken from the Annexes of Execution between SEMARNAT and the State Governments, the Municipalities, Cemex or Cementos Chihuahua, and CANACEM. 20 ------- PROJECT FIFTEEN Cleanup of Sonora Border Scrap Tire Pile DESCRIPTION This project consists of removing 250,000 scrap tires from municipal solid waste landfills in Sonera's border where tires pose a fire risk (e.g. San Luis Rio Colorado or other municipality), and to establish a properly managed storage center to facilitate the timely transfer of tires to appropriate destinations for processing as TDF or other reuses. EXPECTED OUTCOMES Since tire piles pose environmental and health problems, the cleanup of the Sonora border community tire piles will significantly improve the environ- mental health of the area within the vicinity of the site. The project will also help develop scrap tire management infrastructure; therefore, it will contribute to meeting Border 2012's scrap tire management objective. TIMING Cleanup is estimated to be complete in 2007. ORGANIZATIONS SEMARNAT Edgar De Villar; edgar.delvillar@semarnat.gob.mx EPA Region 9 (San Francisco, California) Emily Pimentel; Pimentel.emily@epa.gov FUNDING SOURCE The project will be carried out with public-private sector partnerships that include SEMARNAT, the State of Sonora, CEMEX, the Sonora rail service, and respective local municipalities. Funding will be provided by SEMARNAT and EPA. SEMARNAT: EPA Office of International Affairs & Region 9: $25,000 $50,000 21 ------- PROJECT SIXTEEN Cleanup of Piedras Negras/ Eagle Pass Scrap Tire Pile DESCRIPTION The cities of Eagle Pass, Texas and Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico are work- ing together to deal with the illegal dumping of scrap tires in the region. To date, approximately 159,000 scrap tires have been removed from piles in the Eagle Pass / Piedras Negras areas for TDF through the collective efforts of the U.S. EPA, SEMARNAT, BECC, the City of Eagle Pass and the Municipio de Piedras Negras. . E! EXPECTED OUTCOMES This project will remove nearly 250,000 scrap tires that will be used as TDF and in civil engineering applications. TIMING , 0 R The Piedras Negras tire pile is estimated to have cleaned-up approximately 200,000 scrap tires by April 2007. ORGANIZATIONS City of Eagle Pass, TX Hector Chavez; hchavez(o)citvofeaqlepass.com . SEMARNAT Edgar De Villar; edgar.delvillar@semarnat.gob.mx EPA Region 6 (Dallas, Texas) Robert Snowbarger; Snowbarqer.robert@epa.gov FUNDING SOURCE I SEMARNAT: $10,000 Government of Coahuila: $10,000 Piedras Negras Municipality: $15,000 EPA Region 6: $50,000 *AII Mexican quantities are taken from the Annexes of Execution between SEMARNAT and the State Governments, the Municipalities, Cemex or Cementos Chihuahua, and CANACEM. 22 ------- PROJECT SEVENTEEN Grant for Cleanup of Waste Tires in the Tijuana Rive Valley DESCRIPTION The CIWMB awarded $41,575 to the City of San Diego Solid Waste Local Enforcement Agency (LEA) to pay for the removal and disposal of thousands of waste tires that were washed during winter storms into the Tijuana River Valley from Mexico. These waste tires impact the Tijuana River Valley Regional Park. The project was completed on December 31, 2006. San Diego contracted with The County of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department who performed the actual collection and removal of the waste tires under contract with Donavan Detention Facility. 2,350 tires were removed for a cost of $26,059.45. The LEA has prepared the final report for submittal to CIWMB. The County of San Diego Park and Recreation Department intends to apply for these funds directly to fund future waste tire removal efforts in the Tijuana River Valley Regional Park. TIMING This waste tire project was completed December 31, 2006. ORGANIZATIONS California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) Mitch Delmage; mdelmage@ciwmb.ca.gov California Environmental Protection Agency-Office of Border Affairs (Cal/EPA-OBA) Ricardo Martinez; RMartinez@waterboards.ca.gov FUNDING SOURCE California Tire Recycling Management Fund 23 ------- PROJECT EIGHTTEEN Grant for Waste Tire Cleanup of Tijuana River Channels DESCRIPTION from During yearly rain storms, thousands of tires flow across the border Tijuana and impact San Diego city and county land. The City of San Diego Solid Waste Local Enforcement Agency administers a grant from the California Integrated Management Board to help fund County Park and City of San Diego Streets Division clean-ups of scrap tires that flow into the Tijuana River Valley Regional Park. E X P E C T E D 0 U T C 0 M E S Manual and mechanical clean-ups will remove hundreds of tires from Smuggler's Gulch, the Main channel, and Pilot channel of the Tijuana River. This allows the river to flow without causing flooding and additional degradation. Clean-up in this area stops the tires from moving further downstream into the more sensi- tive estuary habitat. TIMING Periodic ORGANIZATIONS O R City of San Diego Solid Waste Local Enforcement Agency Bill Prinz; wprinz(o)sandiego.gov FUNDING SOURCE Waste Tire Clean-up Grant from the California Integrated Waste Management Board 24 ------- PRINCIPLE FOUR Scrap Tire Management Participation U.S.- MEXICO BORDER SCRAP TIRE INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE PURPOSE Involve stakeholders and communities in creating scrap tire solutions. ACTION 5 Involve the U.S. and Mexican governments, the private-sector, academics, and non-governmental organizations in the implementation of the U.S.-Mexico Scrap Tire Integrated Management Initiative. ACTION 6 Establish and implement educational outreach programs geared toward a diverse audience of stakeholders to increase scrap tire recycling and reuse opportunities. BACKGROUND The ten-year binational Border 2012 Program emphasizes a bottom-up, regional approach to addressing border environmental issues. The U.S.- Mexico Scrap Tire Integrated Management Initiative recognizes the importance of bringing together a wide variety of stakeholders to produce priority actions which can be sustained. It aims to involve the U.S. and Mexican governments, the private-sector, academics, and non-governmental organizations in carrying out the Initiative. 25 ------- PROJECT NINETEEN Tire Outreach Project (TOP) The California Integrated Waste Management Board has awarded a contract to the City of San Diego Solid Waste Local Enforcement Agency to work with the City of Tijuana, Mexico and other affected communities along with Non- Government Officials (NGO) from surrounding border cities along the Califor- nia-Mexico Border. TOP is in the process of developing solutions for scrap tire collection, disposal, and recycling. TOP will promote awareness among canyon residents of recycling opportunities and beneficial uses of scrap tires. E X P E C T E D 0 U T C 0 M E S TOP expects to produce an educational video on how to build retaining walls from scrap tires. This video will be produced in both Spanish and English for use by government planners and engineers, as well as NGOs, to teach the basics of adequately engineered scrap tire retaining walls. Accompanying printed materials will also be produced. TIMING This contract will be completed in May 2007. ORGANIZATIONS California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) Mitch Delmage; mdelmage@ciwmb.ca.gov California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) Lillian Conroe; lconroe@ciwmb.ca.gov City of San Diego Solid Waste Local Enforcement Agency Bill Prinz; wprinz@sandieqo.gov FUNDING SOURCE Contract from the California Integrated Waste Management Board 26 ------- PROJECT TWENTY Training of Mexican Tire Haulers and Used Tire Dealers That Cross Into California to Buy Used Tires for Sale in Mexico re C V S C R I P T I O N This project consists of a series of Spanish language workshops to train Mexican haulers and used tire dealers about applicable statutes and regulations pertaining to hauling, purchasing, selling, and storing used/waste tires within California. By providing this language-specific training, the illicit collection, storage and disposal of used/waste tires within the California-Mexico border will be reduced. SB 772 requires CIWMB staff to work with Mexican authorities in dealing with cross-border hauling of used/waste tires. EXPECTED OUTCOMES Implementation and completion of this five-year training program will improve California-Mexico used/waste tire management practices in the following areas: Compliance of Mexican haulers with regard to the requirements for hauling used/waste tires within the California-Mexico border; Public awareness about the environmental and public health and safety threats associated with used/waste tire mishandling; Increased cooperation and collaboration with Mexican authorities regarding tire management issues; Tracking of legal and illegal used/waste tire flow across the California-Mexico border; Coordination with businesses operating in the border region in applying the same environmental and control requirements. MING This training project began in February 2005 and will be completed by 2010. ORGANIZATIONS California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) Mitch Delmage; mdelmage@ciwmb.ca.gov California Environmental Protection Agency-Office of Border Affairs (Cal/EPA-OBA) Ricardo Martinez; RMartinez@waterboards.ca.gov FUNDING SOURCE California Tire Recycling Management Fund 27 ------- PROJECT TWENTY-ONE New Mexico-Chihuahua Rural Task Force Scrap Tire Clean-up Project ESCRIPTION The Border 2012 New Mexico-Chihuahua Rural Task Force is working with the New M Environment Department, the Autonomous University of Ciudad Juarez and New Mexico State University to evaluate scrap tire piles and address clean up and proper management and disposal of scrap tires in Palomas and Ascension, Chihuahua. The project consists of the following components: A technical workshop on scrap tire management and disposal options for rural commu- nities in the task force region; Assessment of location and size of scrap tire piles in Palomas and Ascension; Education and outreach on proper disposal of scrap tires including development and distribution of outreach materials; Clean-up and baling of scrap tires. Secondary students from Palomas and Ascension will be involved in the implementation of this project. The Autonomous University of Ciudad Juarez in conjunction with New Mexico State University will be training students in how to use Global Positioning System (GPS) units, Geographic Information Systems (CIS), and how to evaluate tire piles. The students will have the opportunity to go out in the field and evaluate scrap tire piles in and around their communities. Students will also develop a brochure on how their communities can properly dispose of used tires and why proper disposal is important. This project will also organize a technical workshop for communities in the task force region that will provide information on options available to small communities for scrap tire management and dis- posal. This workshop will help rural communities design programs to address their scrap tire management and disposal issues. EXPECTED OUTCOMES : Maps of scrap tire piles locations in Palomas and Ascension including estimates of the magnitude of the tire problem in these communities; Clean up and baling of some of the scrap tires in these communities; An action plan for addressing scrap tire management and disposal issues in Palomas and Ascension; Increased awareness among secondary students and their communities regarding the scrap tire problem and proper disposal; Development of GPS and CIS skills among secondary student project participants. TIMING This project was initiated in Fall 2006. Completion is estimated by Sept. 2007. ORGANIZATIONS Border 2012 New Mexico-Chihuahua Rural Task Force Allyson Siwik, asiwik@zianet.com F U N D 1 N G S 0 U R C E U.S. EPA Border 2012 Program 28 ------- PROJECT TWENTY-TWO U.S.-Mexico Border Scrap Tire Integrated Management Initiative Collaborative Effort C R I P T I 0 N The Border 2012 Program has kicked off a campaign to work with Border State municipalities in implementing the U.S.-Mexico Border Scrap Tire Integrated Management Initiative (Tire Initiative.) The Initiative, an official Border 2012 Program document, provides a scrap tire management framework for the two counties to implement using a sustainable development vision. The Initiative establishes a clear and consistent understanding of shared scrap tire management principles, and provides direction for the major program actions necessary to effectively manage scrap tires. See Appendix 2-3 for more details on the Tire Initiative. Specifically, the EPA and SEMARNAT are seeking Border States and municipalities to collaborate on the Tire Initiative by asking them to sign a letter of commitment. By doing so, the Border States and municipalities are: Indicating their awareness and understanding of the Tire Initiative and its Principles and Actions; Expressing our support and collaboration with the Tire Initiative; and Committing to work together to leverage existing resources to implement activities which support each of the Tire Initiative Actions while maintaining consistency with each country's waste management policies. EXPECTED OUTCOMES The goals of the Tire Initiative collaboration effort are to: Increase awareness and understanding of the Tire Initiative and promote actions to cleanup and prevent future tire piles; Obtain commitment from all Border States and municipalities to collaborate on the Tire Initiative and its Principles and Actions by signing a Letter of Commitment; and Encourage Border States and municipalities to consider developing or enhancing their current scrap tire management plans based on the Principles and Actions in the Tire Initiative. TIMING This project is being launched winter 2008. ORGANIZATIONS U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Ellie Kanipe; kanipe.ellie@epag.gov SEMARNAT Lie. Alexandra Gonzalez Narro; alexandra.gonzalez@semarnat.gob.mx 29 ------- APPENDIX ONE Contributors The U.S.-Mexico Border Scrap Tire Group emphasizes collaboration among stake- holders who have an interest in border scrap tire issues. These relevant stakeholders include State and local governments, other governmental organizations (e.g. Border Legislative Conference), academia, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations. Through the concentrated efforts of the U.S.-Mexico Border Scrap Tire Group, all interested parties can achieve their aims in a mutually beneficial way. The Border Scrap Tire Group is coordinating with the Resource Conservation Challenge (RCC) Scrap Tire Workgroup because each has similar goals and interests. The Border Scrap Tire Project Action Plans help to further both the Border Scrap Tire Group's goals and the RCC Scrap Tire Workgroup Goals. The Border Scrap Tire Project Action Plans are modeled after the RCC Scrap Tire Workgroup Summary Action Plans. The partners involved in the Border Scrap Tire Group have varied degrees of involvement with the U.S.-Mexico Border 2012 Program. For this reason, it is important to note that for those organizations not formally part of the Border 2012 Program, the Border Project Action Plan projects are not compelled to have explicit completion dates. The intent of the Border Project Action Plans is to provide a mechanism for coordination of border tire work. Project Owners > Border 2012 New Mexico-Chihuahua Rural Task Force > Border Legislative Conference > California Environmental Protection Agency-Office of Border Affairs > California Integrated Waste Management Board >- City of Eagle Pass, Texas > City of San Diego Solid Waste Local Enforcement Agency > Endpoint Environmental > Pan American Health Organization >- San Diego State University > San Francisco State University >- Secretary of the Secretariat for the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) > Silent Running >- Rubber Manufacturers Association > University of Texas > U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 30 ------- APPENDIX TWO U.S.-Mexico Border Scrap Tire Integrated Management Initiative As part of the U.S.-Mexico Border Scrap Tire Integrated effort to promote effective management of scrap tires in tire management principles and actions were included in completion, the actions will lead to the fulfillment of the principles and the Border 2012 Program tire objectives. proposed actions involve activities that both Mexico and implementing, independently or jointly under the Border Management Initiative's the border region, scrap the document. Upon Initiative's four basic In some cases, the the U.S. are already 2012 Program. Principle One: Principle Two: Principle Three: Principle Four: Better understand the problems contributing to scrap tire generation. Prevent new scrap tire piles. Cleanup "legacy" (existing) tire piles using environmentally sound and cost effective solutions. Involve stakeholders and communities in creating scrap tire solutions. 31 ------- APPENDIX THREE Actions: U.S.-Mexico Border Scrap Tire Integrated Management Initiative As part of the U.S.-Mexico Border Scrap Tire Integrated Management Initiative's effort to promote effective management of scrap tires in the border region, scrap tire management principles and actions were included in the document. Upon com- pletion, the actions will lead to the fulfillment of the Initiative's four basic principles and the Border 2012 Program tire objectives. In some cases, the proposed actions involve activities that both Mexico and the U.S. are already implementing, independently or jointly under the Border 2012 Program. Action 1: Gather information to better understand scrap tire generation (including sources of substandard tires and illegal tire entry into Mexico), illegal scrap tire dumping, and methods for effective management of scrap tires Action 2: Consider federal, state, and local-level regulatory options to administer scrap tire management programs. Action 3: Encourage development and implementation of a variety of Environmentally acceptable and economically promising end-use markets for scrap tires to increase recycling and reuse. It is planned that this will be done through economic, regulatory, and technology development in- centives. Action 4: Abate tire piles by seeking funding to eliminate legacy scrap tire piles, and invest in and adequately manage temporary storage and transfer stations to facilitate recycling and/or reuse of scrap tires. Action 5: Involve the U.S. and Mexican governments, the private-sector, academics, and non-governmental organizations in the implementation of the Partnership Initiative. Action 6: Establish and implement educational outreach programs geared toward a diverse audience of stakeholders to increase scrap tire recycling and reuse opportunities. 32 ------- |