PA CleanWays has released Illegal Dumpsite Surveys for nine counties: Bedford, Berks, Crawford, Fulton, Lawrence, McKean, Schuylkill, Somerset, and Venango.

The surveys identified 891 illegal dumpsites that contained an estimated 3,067 tons of trash and debris in the nine counties. Here are the county by county results--

· Bedford: There were 128 dumpsites identified containing 869.75 tons of trash. Twenty percent of the sites were determined to be active and 90 percent of the sites were located in a rural area.

· Berks: There were 100 dumpsites identified, containing 184.75 tons of trash. Ninety one percent of the sites were determined to be active and 73 percent of the sites were located in a rural area.

· Crawford: There were 82 dumpsites identified containing 115.38 tons of trash. Forty six percent of the sites were determined to be active and 95 percent of the sites were located in a rural area.

· Fulton: There were 19 dumpsites identified in Fulton County containing 169 tons of trash. Eighty nine percent of the sites were determined to be active and 100 percent of the sites were located in a rural area.

· Lawrence: There were 31 dumpsites identified containing 111.50 tons of trash. Ninety seven percent of the sites were determined to be active and 68 percent of the sites were located in a rural area.

· McKean: There were 73 dumpsites identified in McKean County containing 165.50 tons of trash. Eighty-two percent of the sites were determined to be active and 100 percent of the sites were located in a rural area.

· Schuylkill: There were 74 dumpsites identified containing 522.88 tons of trash. Ninety-three percent of the sites were determined to be active and 96 percent of the sites were located in a rural area.

· Somerset: There were 210 dumpsites identified containing 542.50 tons of trash. Sixty one percent of the sites were determined to be active and 95 percent of the sites were located in a rural area.

· Venango: There was 174 dumpsites identified containing 386.38 tons of trash. Ninety percent of the sites were determined to be active and 98 percent of the sites were located in a rural area.

Since 2005, PA CleanWays has surveyed 24 counties locating over 2,600 dumpsites with a total estimated tonnage of 11,000 tons and expects to complete its county by county surveys by 2012.

“Locating dumpsites and assessing how big of a problem illegal dumping is in Pennsylvania is a vital step to addressing the solution,” says Shannon Reiter, President of PA CleanWays. “Once the sites are identified, assessed, and mapped, we can use the surveys to prioritize sites for cleanup and abatement, document problem materials within each dumpsite, develop plans for proper disposal, and provide a benchmark to measure cleanup progress. Additionally, constituents in these counties can begin addressing the problem through public policy, resource allocation, and community education.”

Funding for this latest round of surveys was provided through grants from the Department of Environmental Protection and the Richard King Mellon Foundation. PA CleanWays of Somerset County also contributed to the Somerset County survey.

"Illegal dumpsites are a blight on our communities. They impair our quality of life and diminish our economic competitiveness,” said Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty. “These surveys, which DEP is proud to support, are important tools for identifying the scope of the problem, encouraging public participation, and developing strategies to remove this waste from our land and waterways."

PA CleanWays’ illegal dump surveys educate state, county, and local officials about the problem of illegal dumping and provide valuable data about the dumpsites and the community in which they reside to address the problem through cleanups, municipal waste collections, and recycling programs.

For more information, visit the PA CleanWays website or contact PA CleanWays Program Manager Todd Crouch at 877-772-3673 ext. 16 or send email to: tcrouch@pacleanways.org .

7/4/2008