116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
State rule blamed for severity of Iowa City landfill fire
Critics say the severity of an ongoing fire at an Iowa landfill is an unintended consequence of a state rule that encouraged the site to use an extra layer of tire chips to protect its lining.
Iowa City Public Works Director Rick Fosse told The Associated Press on Wednesday the landfill had no other options to comply with the Department of Natural Resources regulation requiring landfills to protect their clay lining during winter.
He says the extra tire chips gave the fire that started Saturday extra fuel to burn longer.
Environmental consultant Cindy Turkle agrees and calls the regulation unnecessary.
But DNR landfill regulator Alex Moon says the rule is justified to protect the environment and the city had other options to comply even if chips were the most convenient.
An aerial view of a fire in the liner system at the Iowa City Landfill on Tuesday, May 29, 2012, in Iowa City, Iowa. The fire started Saturday evening and is expected to burn for several days. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Daily Newsletters