A group of 10 volunteers were recognized Dec. 30 by the governor's office for working 44 hours in blustery weather on a 1.7-ton cleanup project at Bald Eagle State Forest.

"Lots of yard waste had been dumped over a steep bank, which becomes a drawing point for additional debris," Bald Eagle District Forester Amy Griffith said. "The areas are greatly improved now thanks to the efforts of the volunteers."

The project, which is part of the state's Forest Lands Beautification Program, included illegal dump sites in Mifflin County, along Siglerville-Milheim Pike, Kratzer Trail and Havice Valley Road, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). The debris removed during the November cleanup included household trash, illegally dumped brush and 38 tires, according to DCNR.

"This cleanup was the second and final phase of an effort that began in April," DCNR Secretary John C. Oliver said. "The sites were offensive amidst the peaceful surroundings and beauty of the serene mountain setting."

Bald Eagle sites along Siglerville-Milheim Pike, Havice Valley and Stillhouse Hollow Roads were also cleaned last spring.

Plans for a Bald Eagle cleanup in Centre County are also in the works, said Sue Snyder, associate project manager of PA CleanWays, a non-profit organization that works with DCNR to coordinate the beautification projects. This is tentatively scheduled for sometime around April at the Bald Eagle location along Route 322 between Mount Pleasant and Potters Mills.

DCNR spokeswoman Gretchen Leslie said most of the trash at the location was scattered litter from cars and a nearby rest area and a few tires.

DCNR and PA CleanWays work together to find illegal dumpsites, they then seek out community volunteers and other sponsoring organizations to aid in the cleanup projects.

To date, the partnership has identified about 225 illegal dumpsites and more than 130 have been cleaned up with the help of some 1,300 volunteers, according to DCNR. About 1,950 tons of debris have been removed.

The Forest Lands Beautification Program began with a pilot project headed by PA CleanWays in 1999. The program allocates $7.5 million over five years for state forest cleanups.

PA CleanWays and its partners also work to organize cleanups, provide grants to individual volunteers, give technical assistance to municipalities with illegal dump sites, inform Pennsylvania residents about proper recycling and trash disposal and prosecute illegal dumping offenders.

PA CleanWays is still looking for volunteers for future cleanups through its Web sites (www.cleanpaforests.org and www.pacleanways.org).