Goat Hill Serpentine
Barrens Natural Area protects a nationally rare ecosystem of pitch pine
and hardy plants that can endure metal-laden soil formed from the underlying
serpentinite rock. Illegal dumping of trash, scrap metal and tires was
not only an eyesore but also a threat to this uncommon and exceptional
state resource.
PA
CleanWays, Inc. and Valley Forge State Forest organized the cleanup
September 8, 2003. During the week-long operation, contractor Gary L.
Fronk collected and separated the trash, tires and scrap covering the
area. Approximately 3 tons of computer scrap were recycled by Chester
County HHW Collection. The refuse was loaded into roll-offs and 74.08
tons of trash were disposed at the Southeastern Chester County Refuse
Authority, nearly six tons of tires were recycled at Magnus Environmental
of Wilmington, DE, and 13.23 tons of scrap metal were recycled at Coatesville
Scrap Iron & Metal.
As a final step, some
of the cleaned areas were graded to remove equipment ruts. The disturbance
to the soil by the heavy equipment was actually beneficial to the Very
Hairy Chickweed, a globally rare plant.
Goat Hill Serpentine
Barrens Natural Area is located in West Nottingham Twp, Chester County.
DCNR encourages Chester County residents with questions about recycling
and proper disposal to contact their county Recycling Coordinator at
(610) 344-5940.
Valley Forge State Forest Cleanup Team
Chester County Household Hazardous
Waste Collection
Coatesville Scrap Iron & Metal
Gary Fronk Excavating
Magnus Environmental of Wilmington,
Delaware
PA CleanWays, Inc.
Southeastern Chester County Refuse
Authority
Valley Forge State Forest Employees
|
Valley
Forge State Forest is comprised of 912 acres, spread out over six separate
tracts located in Berks, Bucks, Chester, Lehigh, Delaware, Lancaster,
Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties. The 
forest
is home to four unusual natural areas that are open to the public. These
areas include Goat Hill Serpentine Barrens Natural Area and Little Tinicum
Island, a forested tidal flat in the Delaware River, accessible only
by boat. Also,
included are the David R. Johnson Natural Area and the Ruth Zimmerman
Natural Area.
Learn
about other
illegal dump sites in state forests and parks.
This
page last updated December 8, 2003.
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