Volunteers are needed for the 17th Annual River Sweep, the largest organized volunteer river cleanup effort in the country, set to take place from 8 a.m. to noon June 17 in Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties.

“We have our work cut out for this year as we clean up along our rivers and their tributaries so our area waterways and riverbanks are sparkling in time for the National Baseball League’s All-Star Competition in July,” Pennsylvania Commissioner to Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) Chuck Duritsa said. “The River Sweep cleanup has a long history of success in Pennsylvania and over the years, our volunteers have cleaned more than a million pounds of debris and tires from our waterways.”

River Sweep, an annual six-state effort to clean up litter and debris in the Ohio River watershed, is sponsored by Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission and a number of Pennsylvania corporate sponsors. The event winds through Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia and Illinois, covering more than 2,400 miles of shoreline.

“We are looking for 1,000 volunteers to come out on June 17 and help clean up our riverbanks and waterways,” Pennsylvania River Sweep Coordinator Betsy Mallison said. “It is a great opportunity for families and corporate groups alike, to work together to make a difference in their communities.”

Last year, more than 900 volunteers collected trash and debris along the Ohio, Allegheny, Beaver, Monongahela and Youghiogheny rivers and their tributaries. Volunteers who participate receive trash bags and a souvenir T-shirt. Refreshments are provided at River Sweep sites.

Residents who want to participate in the River Sweep can find a site by checking DEP’s Ohio River Sweep webpage. Information also is available by contacting Carol Mensing at 412-442-4189 or send e-mail to: epsriversweep@state.pa.us .

NewsClips: River Sweep Hopes to Net 1,000 Volunteers

5/26/2006