The Tuscarora Wild Area was returned to its wild state in late July of 2000 when volunteers removed over 125 tires and other trash. After the volunteers were done, a contractor used heavy equipment to remove the remaining refuse. This effort followed a previous cleanup organized by volunteer Sue Horning in 1998, and brings the grand total of trash removed to two truckloads of recyclable scrap metals, more than 300 tires and over eight tons of garbage.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation donated hauling and many loads of millings and soil for use in stabilizing the disturbed areas and the growth of new vegetation. Cocolamus Creek Disposal Services hauled the tires, and Mahantango Tire Recycling disposed of the tires properly.
Gary
Fronk Excavating and Kramer Recycling were contracted to remove
all the trash too hefty for the volunteers, including piles
of old appliances and furniture. The Mifflin County Landfill
donated disposal space for all of the illegally dumped trash
in this and the previous cleanup. Juniata Beverage and Schlegel's
Groceries and Hardware donated refreshments for the volunteers.
With the trash removed, foresters say it will be easy to watch for any new dumping. Committed to keeping the area clean, the volunteers agreed to help DCNR personnel monitor the area.
Vegetation is growing, and trees were planted to complete the restoration of the natural area.
A pilot site cleanup was also conducted in spring of 2000 at the Doubling Gap site, also in the
Tuscarora State Forest, located in Southcentral Pennsylvania.
Learn about other illegal dump sites in state forests and parks.
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