Forest Service seeking information on illegal tire dumps

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Forest Service officials are seeking information about two illegal dump sites in the Cherokee National Forest, the Johnson City Press reported.

The Washington County dump sites each contain about 300-500 tires each and are between one-quarter to one-half acre in size (one-tenth to one-fifth hectare).

Unaka District Ranger Leslie Morgan said in a news release that in addition to being unsightly, tire dump sites can attract disease-carrying rodents and insects. They also increase the risk of forest fires, Morgan said.

Dumping on national forest land is a misdemeanour and punishable by a fine not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment of not more than 6 months. Anyone with information about the dumping is asking to notify the Unaka Ranger District.