[at-l] Hidden Cameras at the PARuck?

[Snodrog5@aol.com (Snodrog5@aol.com)]

SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS MONITOR PENNSYLVANIA FORESTS

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, January 3, 2002 (ENS) - Pennsylvania is using 
motion-sensitive cameras to help identify and prosecute individuals who 
illegally dump trash in state forest and park lands. "We're working hard to 
educate people on the proper way to dispose of tires, appliances and other 
garbage," said state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) 
secretary John Oliver. "There's never a good reason to trash our forests. But 
now individuals who use Pennsylvania's public lands as a dumping ground could 
find themselves starring in a film that will result in a criminal record." 
The use of the cameras is being piloted in Michaux State Forest, which 
spreads into parts of Adams, Cumberland and Franklin counties. Seventeen 
illegal dump sites have been identified in Michaux State Forest. The cameras 
were purchased as part of the Forest Lands Beautification Program, a five 
year campaign to clean up existing dumps on state forest and park lands. In 
2002, the forest camera program will be expanded to other Pennsylvania state 
forests. According to Gary Zimmerman, Michaux State Forest Assistant District 
Forester, the cameras will be placed at undisclosed dump sites throughout the 
forest. The small cameras range from seven inches long to just one-and-a-half 
inches square, and will rotate among various locations so dumpers will have 
difficulty determining whether they are being captured on tape. Because 
illegal dumping often occurs in remote areas, the forest cameras will 
supplement monitoring of dump sites by foresters and volunteers. More than 
130 miles of rural roads run through the 85,000 acre Michaux State Forest. 
"The cameras are a great law enforcement tool for a tough problem," Zimmerman 
said. "Because dumpers will never know where the cameras are, they might 
think twice about dumping on forest lands. And for those captured on tape, 
we'll have evidence to move forward with a prosecution." If convicted, 
offenders can be fined up to $300 plus court costs. Forest dumpers are also 
often sentenced to perform community service. More than 200 illegal dump 
sites have been identified throughout Pennsylvania. To date, 68 sites have 
been cleaned through the efforts of more than 615 volunteers. These cleanups 
have resulted in the removal of almost 350 tons of debris - including 4,000 
tires, 73 tons of scrap metal, construction materials, household trash, 
furniture and more. More information is available at: <A HREF="http://www.cleanpaforests.org/";>
http://www.cleanpaforests.org</A> 
    

    





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