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Army divers clean up tire reef in Puget Sound

DES MOINES, Wash. — In the 1970s, using old tires to make an artificial reef at Saltwater State Park at Des Moines seemed like a good idea.

But toxics in the rubber leach into the water over time, with potential hazards for Puget Sound fish and the people who eat them.

That’s why the state Fish and Wildlife Department and other agencies enlisted Army divers to remove the tires.

About 15 divers from the Army Dive Company based in Fort Eustis, Va., are bringing up about 500 tires this week from water about 60 feet deep. The tires will most likely be chopped up and dumped at a landfill.

The state Parks and Recreation Commission plans to build a new artificial reef at the park with concrete and natural boulders.