Attorney General's News Release

April 4, 2000

Nixon asks court to order cleanup of 80,000 waste tires illegally dumped on property near Willow Springs

Jefferson City, Mo. — Attorney General Jay Nixon has asked the Howell County Circuit Court to order the owners of an illegal waste tire dump site near Willow Springs to remove an estimated 80,000 tires that Nixon said are causing public health and safety concerns because of how they are stored. The tires, owned by Lealin Wake Sr. and Saundra Wake, are located at an unpermitted site off County Road 5500 in Howell County.

Nixon is asking the court to order the Wakes to remove the tires or to allow the Missouri Department of Natural Resources access to the site to begin tire removal, with any costs incurred to be paid by the defendants.

The piles of tires have not been adequately managed for fire prevention and fighting a fire on the site would be extremely difficult, Nixon said. In addition, the onset of warmer weather provides an opportunity for mosquitoes to breed in stagnant water pooled inside the waste tires, Nixon said.

The lawsuit also seeks civil penalties from the defendants to the state of up to $1,000 per day per violation of the state's solid waste management law.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818