Roosevelt County receives tire-disposal grant

PORTALES — Roosevelt County has been awarded a New Mexico Environmental Department grant for the purchase of rubberized emulsion asphalt, made of recycled scrap tires.

Roosevelt County Manager Amber Hamilton said in a news release the material will be applied as a fog seal application on approximately 11 miles of county-maintained roads constructed of chip sealed materials.

There are approximately 120 miles of chip seal roadways in Roosevelt County, the release said.

“Roosevelt County will work with the City, dairy producers, farmers and ranchers in this newly developed process of utilizing local scrap tires through this recycling method,” Special Projects Coordinator Carol Acosta-Flores said in the release.

“We’re thrilled to receive this grant award of approximately $78,000 and look forward to assisting our local residents with scrap tire disposal.”

The project will be implemented after a training session, the release said.

“This is a new grant endeavor for the Road Department and we hope it will help reduce the amount of illegal dumping of scrap tires on County roads,” said Road Superintendent Ricky Lovato.

“The Road Department grant funding has more than quadrupled this year with all the new awards such as this grant and (others). ... The next 18 months will be taxing on our team and equipment, yet extremely rewarding for the entire County as we complete all of these new projects.”