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Call f o r m a Env i r o n m e n t al P r o t e c t i o n A g e n c y , � ,JNEWS ADVISORY Integrated Waste Management Board Attn: Environment Editor For Planning Purposes Contact: Chris Peck NOT FOR PUBLICATION Lanny Clavecilla November 28, 2000 (916) 869-1323 00-092A opa@ciwmb.ca.gov WASTE BOARD TO EXTINGUISH TRACY TIRE FIRE WHAT: Media tour and press availability with Waste Board experts, firefighters, and members of the Tracy community at the site of the Royster tire fire in Tracy. Interviews and actualities will provide details on planned fire suppression efforts that begin next week. VISUALS: A final opportunity to get close to the tire pile before it is cordoned off for fire fighting operations. WHEN: Wednesday, November 29, 2000 — 11:00 a.m. WHY: On August 7, 1998, an estimated seven million tires being illegally stored at the Royster tire site were ignited. Because of the site's bowl-shaped geography environmental and fire officials determined that the best strategy was to let the tires burn. The majority of the fire now has burned itself out and only a small portion of the site where the tire pile was the deepest still continues to smolder. Fire suppression efforts at this point will pose minimal risk to the environment. WHO: The Integrated Waste Management Board —one of six boards and departments within the California Environmental Protection Agency and the State agency charged with cleaning up waste tire sites —will begin operations to extinguish the Royster tire fire near Tracy this week. The Board approved funding to put out the fire at its October Board meeting, knocking down once and for all the fire that has been smoldering for the past two years. WHERE: 29425 South Mac Arthur Drive DIRECTIONS: Take the Tracy Blvd exit from 1-205. Go south on Tracy Blvdto Linne Road. Make a left on Linne Road. At the intersection of Linne Road and South Mac Arthur Drive make a right (south). Go across the railroad tracks and pass the gravel plant on South Mac Arthur Drive. Continue on South Mac Arthur about 1/2 mile until you see the signage on the right. Follow the dirt road to the site. The six-member Integrated Waste Management Board is responsible for protecting the public's health and safety and the environment through management of the estimated 56 million tons of solid waste generated in California each year. The Board's mandate is to work in partnership with local government, industry, and the public to achieve a 50 percent reduction in waste disposed by the end of the year, while ensuring environmentally safe landfill disposal capacity. California's 1999 statewide diversion rate was estimated at 37 percent.