PA ATVer's - What can you do to help?
JWLBAL
http://www.cleanpaforests.org
NEWS RELEASE
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Department of Conservation
and Natural Resources
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol
Harrisburg, PA 17120
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Gretchen Leslie
DCNR Press Secretary
(717) 772-9101
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR FOREST LANDS BEAUTIFICATION PROGRAM'S 2002 CLEANUP
EFFORT
More than 60 sites in 24 counties targeted
HARRISBURG (March 21, 2002) - On behalf of Gov. Mark Schweiker, Department
of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary John C. Oliver today
issued a call for volunteers to help clean and monitor more than 60 illegal
dumps in Pennsylvania's state forests and parks. The request is part of the
Pennsylvania Forest Lands Beautification Program's 2002 cleanup effort.
"Last year, volunteers devoted more than 2,400 hours to cleanup efforts in
this program-the equivalent of 300 eight-hour work days," Secretary Oliver
said. "They cleaned dozens of sites, making a remarkable contribution to our
environment, to our wildlife and to the citizens of Pennsylvania. In 2002,
we hope to surpass last year's figures, but we need concerned Pennsylvanians
to step forward again."
Cleanups for 2002 will begin in mid-March, and will take place during the
spring and fall months. The list of illegal dumpsites targeted for possible
cleanup in 2002 includes more than 60 sites in 24 counties.
PA CleanWays, DCNR's partner in the Forest Lands Beautification program,
organizes and manages the cleanups. PA CleanWays officials have set cleanup
dates for some sites, but note that cleanup priorities for other sites will
be set as local residents and recreational users respond to the call for
volunteers.
"A groundswell of volunteer interest can quickly raise the cleanup priority
for any given dumpsite," said Helen Ostermiller, PA CleanWays Interim
Executive Director. "There already have been cleanups at several sites
because a single, energetic volunteer stepped forward and made things
happen."
In addition to participating in cleanups, volunteers are sought to monitor
cleaned sites for recurrent dumping. Monitors regularly visit the sites,
check for evidence and promptly remove any new trash to deter additional
dumping, since trash attracts trash.
The list of possible cleanups for 2002 includes several sites recently named
to DCNR's "Dirty Dozen," a list of sites statewide that highlights the
problem of forest dumping.
Illegal dumpsites in Pennsylvania state forests and parks contaminate
groundwater, attract disease-carrying mosquitoes and undermine tourism.
The Forest Lands Beautification Program, created by the Forest Lands
Beautification Act in 1998, provides up to $7.5 million over five years to
clean up existing dumps on state forest and park lands by recycling or
properly disposing of waste materials, monitoring sites and working with
communities to reduce future dumping. The program is funded by the Municipal
Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act (Act 101), administered by
the Department of Environmental Protection.
More than 200 illegal dumpsites have been identified throughout
Pennsylvania. Since the program's inception, 81 sites have been cleaned
through the efforts of both contractors and more than 660 volunteers. These
cleanups have resulted in the removal of more than 1,500 tons of
debris-including more than 4,000 tires, 63 tons of scrap metal, construction
materials, household trash, furniture and more.
Volunteers interested in joining a cleanup team or needing more information
can call the Forest Lands Beautification Program toll-free at 1-877-7PA
FOREST (1-877-772-3673) or visit the program website at
www.CleanPAForests.org.
# # #
EDITOR'S NOTE: A list by county of dumpsites waiting to be cleaned in 2002
follows. Those marked with an asterisk (*) were listed on the 2002 "Dirty
Dozen" list. Photos of some sites are available via e-mail.
2002 FOREST LANDS BEAUTIFICATION PRIORITY DUMPSITE LIST
Adams, Cumberland, Franklin counties
Michaux State Forest*
Rattlesnake Run Road (Quincy and Washington townships)
Ridge Road North (Cooke and Dickinson townships)
Ridge Road South (Greene Township)
Staley Road (Quincy Township)
Swamp Road (Greene Township)
Thompson Hollow Road (Southampton Township)
Wirt Road (Quincy Township)
Bedford County
Buchanan State Forest
Big Mountain & Shaffer Roads (Mann and Southampton townships)
Burnt Church Road (Broad Top Township)*
Ragged Mountain Road (Southampton Township)
Rays Cove Road (East Providence Township)
Gallitzin State Forest
Crowsfoot (West St. Clair and Lincoln townships)
Ryot Road (West St. Clair Township)
Cambria and Westmoreland counties
Laurel Ridge State Park*
State Route 56 (West Taylor Township)
Carbon and Luzerne counties
Lehigh Gorge State Park
Bridgeport (Kidder Township)
Lehigh Tannery (Foster Township)
Jim Thorpe (Jim Thorpe Borough)
Centre County
Moshannon State Forest
Dug Road (Rush and Worth townships)
Hannah Furnace (Rush Township)
Julian Pike (Huston Township)*
Munson Dump (Rush Township)
Munson Road (Rush Township)
North Run Road (Rush Township)
Rock Run Trail (Union Township)
Six Mile Run (Rush Township)
Strawband Beaver Road (Rush Township)
Rothrock State Forest
Kepler Road (Ferguson Township)
Sproul State Forest
Orviston-Monument Rail/Trail (Curtin Township)*
Clearfield County
Moshannon State Forest
Dubec Road (Pine Township)
Mill Run Road (Huston Township)
Clinton County
Sproul State Forest
Big Basin Road (Leidy Township)
Murphy Estate/Stony Run (Leidy Township)
Tiadaghton State Forest
Shaw Mountain Road (Crawford Township)*
Cumberland County
Tuscarora State Forest
Three Square Hollow Road (Hopewell and Upper Mifflin townships)
Delaware County
Valley Forge State Forest
Little Tinicum Island (Tinicum Township)
Fayette County
Forbes State Forest
Kirby Road (Wharton Township)
Potter School Road (Wharton Township)*
Tebolt Drive (Wharton Township)
Skyline Drive (Wharton Township)
Franklin and Fulton counties
Buchanan State Forest
Fannettsburg Mountain Road (Metal Township)
Aughwick Road (Todd Township)
Franklin and Perry counties
Tuscarora State Forest
Conococheague* (Toboyne Township). Note: A cleanup has been planned for this
site at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 6. Interested volunteers should contact Sue
Horning of PA CleanWays at (717) 535-4596.
Second Narrow Road (Fannell Township)
Huntingdon County
Rothrock State Forest
Colerain Road (Spruce Creek Township)
Haul Road (Jackson Township)
Little Shingletown Road (Barree Township)
Pennsylvania Furnace Road (West Township)
Juniata County
Tuscarora State Forest
Denholm, Rte. 333 (Milford Township)
Juniata and Snyder counties
Bald Eagle State Forest
Route 235-Shade Mountain (Fayette and West Perry townships)*
Lebanon County
Swatara State Park*
Various small locations scattered in the park
Lycoming County
Tiadaghton State Forest
Long Run Road (McIntyre Township)
Bull Run (Cummings Township)
Middle Hill (Cummings Township)
Summit Trail (Washington Township)
Truman Run (McHenry Township)
Pine Bottom Run (Cummings Township)
Skyline Drive (Armstrong, Brady and Clinton townships)
Mifflin County
Bald Eagle State Forest
Kratzert Trail (Armagh Township)
Red Ridge Road (Armagh Township)
Stillhouse Hollow Road (Armagh Township)
Philadelphia County
Benjamin Rush State Park*
Schuylkill County
Tuscarora State Park
Sites 1-6 (Rush and Ryan townships)
Weiser State Forest
Silver Creek (Blythe Township)*
Union County
Bald Eagle State Forest
Paddy Mountain Road (Hartley Township)
Cooper Mill Road (Lewis Township)