Two people are accused of illegally dumping more than 1,000 tires in Capitol State Forest, a move prosecutors say posed a serious threat to Washington’s salmon.
Two individuals are facing criminal charges after allegedly collecting and dumping large quantities of waste tires in Capitol State Forest, according to the Washington State Attorney General’s Office.
Kenneth Ray Johnson and Karrie Denise Delafield are each charged with multiple counts of unlawful dumping of solid waste and transporting waste tires without a license, both gross misdemeanors, according to court documents.
The allegations stem from activity between March and April 2024, when the two collected used tires from shops in Thurston County and dumped them at multiple locations in the forest, according to affidavits filed in Thurston County District Court.
Investigators say the dumping was first reported by residents who spotted U-Haul trucks traveling along remote forest roads where such vehicles are uncommon.
Authorities later traced the vehicles to rentals that showed evidence of transporting tires, including marks left inside the trucks, according to the filings. At one site, more than 100 tires were discovered where a U-Haul had previously been located.
In total, officials estimate more than 1,000 tires were dumped over a roughly two-week period.
Prosecutors say the environmental impact could be significant. Tires contain a chemical known as 6PPD, which can transform into a compound toxic to aquatic life when exposed to ozone, officials said. That compound has been linked to deadly effects on coho salmon, a species central to Washington’s ecosystem.
According to charging documents, the suspects allegedly picked up tires from businesses along the Interstate 5 corridor, resold some, and disposed of the rest illegally.
Neither defendant was licensed to transport waste tires, which is required under state law to ensure proper handling and disposal, prosecutors said.
Each charge carries a potential penalty of up to 364 days in jail, a $5,000 fine, or both, under Washington law.
“Our salmon populations are a part of our history, our culture, and our way of life,” said Washington Attorney General Nick Brown. “We will continue to hold polluters accountable and protect Washington’s salmon from the lethal harms of illegal dumping.”
The case is part of a broader effort by state officials to crack down on illegal tire dumping, which has increased in recent years on both public and private land, Brown said.
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