PA CleanWays, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and many volunteers spent the last 12 months in a large-scale cleanup of Swatara State Park in Lebanon County.

“PA CleanWays applauds Gov. Rendell, Secretary DiBerardinis and DCNR for their strong commitment to restoring Pennsylvania’s natural resources through cleanup and abatement activities in our state parks and forests,” said Shannon Reiter, PA CleanWays president. “The cleanup at Swatara State Park is just one example of how cross-sector collaboration and community involvement can bring about tangible results for all of Pennsylvania.”

“This project went far beyond the removal of a vacant home and cleanup of a mini-junkyard where 250 tons of tires and wheels, electrical transformers and other debris had been discarded,” said DCNR Secretary Michael DiBerardinis. “There also was the very real threat of contamination of concrete materials and soil from transformer oil containing PCBs.”

The 5.5-acre parcel of land off Old State Road was acquired by DCNR in 2006 and quickly targeted for a salvage yard cleanup that involved local volunteers, the Bureau of State Parks and PA CleanWays, a non-profit organization helping agencies and communities combat litter and dumping.

During a second-stage cleanup this summer, staff from the bureau, PA CleanWays, the Department of Environmental Protection, DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry and several private firms specializing in environmental cleanup and restoration work removed soil and a former residence from the site.

PA CleanWays hired Environmental Restoration Inc. to remove all municipal waste materials, including the former residence and other debris on the site, and to grade, seed and mulch the site.

Surface contouring and seeding is complete. The site will be left to return to a natural state with a riparian buffer at the southern entrance to the park.

State acquisition of lands that were to become Swatara State Park began in 1971 and ended in 1987. Totaling 3,520 acres, Swatara consists of rolling fields and woodlands situated along Interstate 81, between Second and Blue mountains. Among its main focal points is an 8-mile stretch of Swatara Creek that winds through the park.

A recreation area is planned for the future that will offer canoeing, fishing, hiking, picnicking, bicycling, swimming, camping and environmental education.

For more information on Swatara, Memorial Lake or Pennsylvania’s other 116 state parks, visit DCNR’s State Parks webpage.

8/3/2007