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Hazardous tire waste found in Jacksonville property

Two men have been cited for failure to obtain proper permits and for the health hazard posed by their property, which is located in the 2600 block of Rogero Road.

Curt Douglas Hatton, 46, of Jacksonville, and Richard Allen Hayes, 46, of Mayo, operate RL&C Services, a tire disposal and used tire sales company in Mayo. Although they did carry a permit to store tires for their business, they exceeded their limit of 1,500 tires.

After an investigation by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conversation Commission, the men were cited on Jan. 4 for failure to obtain proper permits and for the health hazard posed by their property.

Karen Parker, the commission's public information coordinator, said the main concerns were the mosquito activity and the fire hazard posed by a used burn barrel in the middle of the tires.

“If the tires were to catch fire, they would be extremely hard to put out,” she said.

They came under investigation after the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office received complaints late last year. The commission is working with the men to make sure the tires are properly disposed.

“We will be doing follow-up investigations to make sure that is all taken care of,” Parker said.

Parker urges anyone who sees a similar situation or any wildlife violation to call the wildlife alert number at 888-404-3922. The lines are operated 24 hours a day.

Hatton and Hayes have been asked to appear before the Duval County Clerk of Courts Jan. 28 at 1:30 p.m. The phone number listed for their company is disconnected.

Stefanie is a reporter for WUFT News who may be contacted by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news @wuft.org