State penalizes company for stockpiling too many tires

DARIEN - State environmental officials have revoked the permit of a scrap tire processor for having too many tires on the property. <br> <br> Future Management Concept has a stockpile of 200,000 used tires. It had been ordered to cut the number to 12,600 by August. <br> <br> The state regulates the stockpiling of scrap tires because they are a fire hazard and mosquitoes breed in the rainwater that collects in them. <br> <br> A specialist with the Environmental Protection Division, Kim McSwain, said the company had already failed to comply with a state order not to accept any more tires after October. <br> <br> EPD records also show the company had other violations, including storing tires off-site, exceeding limits on the size of tire piles and lacking adequate fire lanes. <br> <br> Company owner Daniel Johnson Sr. admitted some of the violations and said he can reduce the stockpiles to permitted limits if the EPD is lenient. He said the EPD has cut off about 85 percent of his income by restricting his business.