The Integrated Waste Management (IWM) Site is located at Road 385, Km 2.49 in Penuelas, Puerto Rico. IWM is approximately 3 acres in size. Residences are located approximately ½ mile to the north and ¾ miles to the south. Tallaboa Bay is approximately 1 ½ miles to the south and the Tallaboa River is approximately ½ mile to the west.
IWM has operated at the Penuelas facility since 2002 for the purpose of shredding and recycling scrap tires. At one time, approximately 60,000 tires were stockpiled at the IWM facility. In August of 2008 there was a fire in a pile of shredded tires located on the facility. THE PHOTO ACCOMPANYING THIS PROFILE WAS TAKEN DURING THE 2008 FIRE. Local authorities responded and were able to control the fire by removing some of the tires and burying the remainder. The fire was not completely extinguished and has been smoldering and is currently emitting a smoke plume from the top of the buried pile. According to a report generated by IWM, most of the tires have since been removed. An unknown number of tires are contained in the buried pile that is currently smoking. Tire fires, depending on the age and composition of the material, have the potential to release pollutants including pyrolytic oils, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides, benzene, volatile organics and heavy metals.
The Environmental Quality Board (EQB) of Puerto Rico has requested that EPA assess the situation and determine if an emergency removal action should be performed at the facility. IWM has already informed EQB and EPA that they do not have the resources to extinguish the fire and dispose of any materials that may be
present.
