For immediate release March 6, 2008

BREDESEN ANNOUNCES $468,335 IN USED OIL COLLECTION GRANTS

GRANTS WILL HELP ENCOURAGE PROPER COLLECTION OF USED MOTOR OIL ACROSS TENNESSEE

Nashville, Tenn. – Governor Phil Bredesen and Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner Jim Fyke announced today that 29 used oil collection grants totaling $468,335 have been awarded to establish, upgrade and expand used oil collection centers in communities across Tennessee.

“This is a very straightforward approach to dealing with a potential cause of pollution, and it has a direct positive impact on the water quality of our lakes, streams and groundwater in Tennessee,” Bredesen said. “I’m pleased we can provide these grants to encourage community collection centers where ‘do-it-yourselfers’ can conveniently recycle their used motor oil.”

Tennesseans who change their own motor oil generate more than one million gallons of used oil each year, which can pollute soil and water and interfere with the operation of sewer systems when not properly disposed. The General Assembly authorized the Used Oil Collection Act of 1993 to assist local communities in collecting used oil and reducing its negative effects on the environment. Tennessee’s Solid Waste Management Act requires counties to have at least one place in the county where used oil can be properly disposed.

The first priority for grant funding is to establish collection sites in underserved areas. Other grants will fund improvement or replacement of equipment in existing public and private facilities. Equipment purchased through Oil Collection Grants can include containers, used oil burners, containment structures, shelter covers and other items.

The used oil collection grants announced today include:

Applicant	County	Grant Amount	Project/Equipment Description
City of Clinton	Anderson	$14,200	Storage tank, canopy, pad, waste oil heater, oil pump
Anderson County	Anderson	$2,500	Oil filter crusher
Carter County	Carter	$11,200	Storage tank, spill pans
City of Newbern	Dyer	$18,700	Storage tank, canopy, pad, oil filter crusher, waste oil heater, oil pump
Fayette County	Fayette	$3,000	Oil filter crusher, oil pump
Gibson County	Gibson	$17,700	Storage tank, canopy, oil filter crusher, waste oil heater, oil pump
Town of Greeneville	Greene	$11,000	Waste oil heater, oil pump
Hardeman County	Hardeman	$40,000	Canopies, pads, waste oil heater
Hardin County	Hardin	$8,800	Storage tanks
Hawkins County	Hawkins	$50,000	Storage tanks, canopies, pads, waste oil heaters, oil pump
Henry County	Henry	$12,000	Storage tank, canopy, pad, oil filter crusher, waste oil heater, pump
Dixon Tractor Repair	Lawrence	$18,700	Storage tank, canopy, pad, oil filter crusher, waste oil heater, oil pump
Lewis County	Lewis	$3,000	Canopy, oil pump
Lenoir City	Loudon	$1,000	Oil pump
Hampton Trucking, LLC	Marion	$9,135	Storage tank, waste oil heater
Monroe County Highway Dept.	Monroe	$8,000	Waste oil heater
City of Madisonville	Monroe	$13,200	Storage tank, canopy, pad, waste oil heater
Bi-County Solid Waste Management	Montgomery	$28,000	Storage tanks, canopies, pads
Morgan County	Morgan	$37,800	Storage tanks, canopies, pads, waste oil heater, oil pump
Obion County	Obion	$3,600	Spill containment, canopy, oil pump
Roane County	Roane	$2,500	Oil filter crusher
Scott County	Scott	$11,400	Storage tanks, canopies, pads, oil pump
Sullivan County Highway Dept.	Sullivan	$27,900	Canopies, pads, oil filter crusher, waste oil heaters, oil pumps
Sullivan County Solid Waste Maintenance	Sullivan	$37,000	Canopies, waste oil heaters, oil pump
Union County	Union	$11,400	Storage tanks, canopies, pads, oil pump
Van Buren County	Van Buren	$17,000	Canopies, pads, oil filter crusher, oil pump, education
Weakley County	Weakley	$2,000	Canopy
White County	White	$14,100	Storage tank, canopy, pad, waste oil heater, oil pump, education
Wilson County	Wilson	$33,500	Storage tanks, canopies, pads, education

TOTAL		$468,335

Visit http://www.tdec.net/swm/oil/ or call toll-free at 1-800-287-9013 for more information concerning used oil collection centers, operating hours, requirements for collection locations that accept commercial used oil and other facts about used oil.

For more information contact:

Meg Lockhart
Office (615) 253-1916

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