WESTLEY, CALIF. (Dec. 8, 2000) — An administrative law judge has fined the former operator of the defunct Oxford tire pile near Westley $300,000 and the owners of the land $10,500 for violations of state tire storage rules.
The judge, ruling on behalf of the California Integrated Waste Management Board, levied the fines Nov. 28 against operator Mark Kirkland and landlord Filbin Land and Cattle Co.
Mr. Kirkland operated Omega Tires, a hauling firm that had permission to store 5,000 tires in 50 trailers on the site adjacent to the Modesto Energy tire-powered generating plant.
How4ever, he stored as many as 230,000 tires in 117 trailers and on the ground, waste board spokesman Frank Simpson said. The tire pile was the scene of a major fire last year that resulted in the closure of the power plant.