Scrap Tire Management Fund
Comments / Responses From Regional Meetings
Two meetings were held on November 13 and 14 , 2000 to discuss and comment on the first draft of the Scrap Tire Management Fund Entitlement Procedural Guide and Spending Plan Form. The November 13 meeting was held in Somerset County and the November 14 meeting was held in Gloucester County . Both meetings were well attended by solid waste management coordinators , CEHA enforcement officials and Mosquito Control officials . Items of discussion included fund allocation , time frame for projects , uses of the fund , tire markets , recycling vs. disposal , major tire pile cleanups , waste flows impacts , public bidding , and financial and performance reports .The following summarizes some of the key points made concerning these discussion items .
1. Fund Allocation
Two counties questioned the fund allocation formula. Funds were allocated based upon road mileage. The two counties suggested the allocation be based on something else such as population, vehicle registrations or the number of reported West Nile Virus cases . The Department did consider other allocation formulas but decided to use a funding allocation formula similar to the one it uses for the Clean Communities Program . The allocations in the Guide will remain the same . If any county can not make use of its full entitlement , the Department would make these funds available to those counties with a need for additional funds.
2. Time Frame For Projects
The Guide states that Scrap Tire Management Funds must be used for the costs of scrap tire management activities incurred between July 1, 2000 and December 31, 2001. The July 1, 2000 date is the first day of the fiscal year for which this fund was made available. It is not necessary for counties to have spent funds beginning that date , but if they did , they could be reimbursed for those expenses . Each county will determine its start date and include that date in its spending plan . The Department prefers that the start date be no later than May 1, 2001, so that the use of these funds will have an impact on the next mosquito season . Whatever the start date is, the Department prefers that the duration of all projects be for one year . The Guide allows for a project time extension of six months, if a county so desires . Under no circumstance should the work period exceed twenty four months.
3.Uses Of The Fund
a ) Equipment
It was asked if a county could purchase equipment such as a tire slicer , tire chipper , tire rim remover or tarps . The Department will allow equipment purchases provided the county has programs in place to collect scrap tires and the equipment=s use can be justified .
b) Cleanup of tires on private property
It was asked what is the maximum number of scrap tires that can be removed from a tract of private property without placing a lien on the landowner . The maximum will be 1,000 tires so as to include a truck load of illegally dumped tires.
c) Research / demonstration projects
One county asked if funds could be used to perform a compaction of sliced tires in a landfill study. While there is merit to performing this study, the Department will not allow these funds to be used for research / demonstration projects .
4. Tire Markets
Counties expressed concern over being able to find a market for their tires at a fair price if suddenly all twenty-one counties are expanding their efforts to collect tires. The Bureau of Recycling and Planning has compiled the attached list of markets . The list will be periodically updated and posted on the web .
5. Recycling Vs. Disposal
It was asked if the Department had a preference to either the recycling or the disposal of scrap tires . The Department obviously prefers recycling over disposal but each county will be the one to determine what management option it uses .
6. Major Tire Pile Cleanups
The Department maintains a list of sites known to contain major piles of scrap tires . The list is dynamic in that some sites are cleaned and removed from the list and others are found and added to the list. The Department is currently planning the cleanup of these sites and will announce its plans in the near future . Counties may use their entitlement funds to search for larger sites, but the cleanup of larger sites should not be planned using these funds. However, a county may opt to do the cleanup of a large scrap tire site if it already has a scrap tire collection program in place and could justify the cleanup.
7. Waste Flow Impacts
There was some uncertainty concerning the potential impact of waste flows on the collection and transportation of scrap tires . Waste flows will not any impact on the collection and transportation of scrap tires that are recycled . However, if scrap tires are to be disposed of in a landfill or incinerator , then the waste flows for that county , if any, must be adhered to. If the receiving facility is unable to handle the scrap tires , the tires may be directed to another facility. Please consult your designated facility to determine whether or not they can process the tires .
8. Public Bidding
There were several questions concerning the need to publicly bid services such as collection , storage , transportation , disposal and recycling . We have asked the Department of Community Affairs ( DCA ) for input as it relates to this issue and have not yet received a response. The department will post the response on its web page ( www.state.nj.us/dep/dshw ) as soon as one is received from DCA. For those offices without internet access, copies of the response will be mailed out. Meanwhile , we suggest you consult your comptroller or finance director.
9. Financial And Performance Reporting
Financial and performance reporting are discussed on page 6 of the draft Guide under 12. Program Administration. Reports are to be submitted on a quarterly basis beginning three ( 3 ) months after the project start date. Be sure to include in the narrative the number of scrap tires collected and disposed of whether recycled , landfilled or incinerated. Also, attached is an Expenditure Report Form that must be completed and submitted with the performance report. The form must be certified by the Chief Financial Officer.
The final copy of the Scrap Tire Management Fund Procedural Guide and Spending Plan Form will be released to the counties on or about December 13, 2000. Counties will have until March 13, 2001 to submit their spending plan and resolution(s). Within thirty (30) days of receipt of a complete package, the department will review and approve (or request modification / clarification to ) the county entitlement submittal. Checks will released by the Treasurer within ninety ( 90 ) days of approval of the spending plan.