US/Mexico Border Scrap Tire Problem Robert Snowbarger Summer Project Robert Snowbarger Summer Project

Sister Cities on the U.S.- Mexico Border San Diego – Tijuana Calexico – Mexicali Yuma – San Luis Nogales – Nogales Naco – Naco Douglas – Agua Prieta Columbus – Puerto Palomas El Paso – Ciudad Juárez San Diego – Tijuana Calexico – Mexicali Yuma – San Luis Nogales – Nogales Naco – Naco Douglas – Agua Prieta Columbus – Puerto Palomas El Paso – Ciudad Juárez Presidio – Ojinaga Del Rio – Ciudad Acuña Eagle Pass – Piedras Negras Laredo – Nuevo Laredo McAllen – Reynosa Brownsville – Matamoros Presidio – Ojinaga Del Rio – Ciudad Acuña Eagle Pass – Piedras Negras Laredo – Nuevo Laredo McAllen – Reynosa Brownsville – Matamoros

Scrap Tire Issues

Border 2012 Announced September 2002 by ten border states environmental authorities. Built on previous accomplishments: –Coordination under IBEP. –Measures under Border XXI. Bottom up, regional/ local approach. Announced September 2002 by ten border states environmental authorities. Built on previous accomplishments: –Coordination under IBEP. –Measures under Border XXI. Bottom up, regional/ local approach.

Goal 3: Reduce Land Contamination Four Goals: –Clean up tire piles –Clean up contaminated sites –Develop hazardous waste export/import tracking system –Build institutional capacity and infrastructure Waste Policy Forum (WPF) Four Goals: –Clean up tire piles –Clean up contaminated sites –Develop hazardous waste export/import tracking system –Build institutional capacity and infrastructure Waste Policy Forum (WPF)

Goal – Tire Pile Clean-up Clean up the three largest sites by 2010 Find sustainable solutions to tire piles Develop programs in partnership with local governments. Clean up the three largest sites by 2010 Find sustainable solutions to tire piles Develop programs in partnership with local governments.

Scrap Tire Fires

Scrap Tire Recycling

Border Tire Problems Problems presented by tire plies: –Disease vectors, –Fires = air/water/soil contamination –A dirty fuel for brick making –Over 10,000,00 and growing in 2004 Local solutions essential: –Transportation economies –Local uses different Problems presented by tire plies: –Disease vectors, –Fires = air/water/soil contamination –A dirty fuel for brick making –Over 10,000,00 and growing in 2004 Local solutions essential: –Transportation economies –Local uses different

Scrap Tire Solutions/Factors Market Development Transportation Costs Local uses/traditions Market Development Transportation Costs Local uses/traditions TDF Civil Engineering Rubberized Asphalt Improved fuel use TDF Civil Engineering Rubberized Asphalt Improved fuel use

Scrap Tires Accomplishments 2004: US/Mexico Bi-national Commission signed a Letter of Intent to develop a border scrap tire strategy 2006:2.1 million tires cleaned up by combined efforts of EPA, SEMARNAT, regional waste task forces, states, cities and Tribes Including 34,000 tires on the Pala Band of Mission Indians 2004: US/Mexico Bi-national Commission signed a Letter of Intent to develop a border scrap tire strategy 2006:2.1 million tires cleaned up by combined efforts of EPA, SEMARNAT, regional waste task forces, states, cities and Tribes Including 34,000 tires on the Pala Band of Mission Indians

Additional Information Border 2012 webpage: – RMA border webpage: – EPA Waste-Related Documents – Spanish Portal for EPA Home Page –

DataData Census Data Tire Pile Location Data Emission Data Census Data Tire Pile Location Data Emission Data

ProgressProgress Data collected on possible area tire piles Census data collected for El Paso County Emission data collected Air Models Selected Data collected on possible area tire piles Census data collected for El Paso County Emission data collected Air Models Selected

ObstaclesObstacles Detailed data for Mexican side of Border Deciding on an Air Model Confirming tire pile locations Detailed data for Mexican side of Border Deciding on an Air Model Confirming tire pile locations

No End in Sight! Air Modeling Methodology for determining tire piles size ArcIMS!!! Air Modeling Methodology for determining tire piles size ArcIMS!!!