For Immediate Release
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Volunteers Needed for Beach and River Efforts
OCEAN CITY , Md. - In an effort to turn the tide against trash and debris along area beaches and riverbanks, Delmarva Power is once again partnering with environmental, governmental and business organizations in support of the 24th annual Coastal Cleanup this fall.
Coastal Cleanup will take place on three Saturdays - Sept. 11, Sept. 18 and Sept. 25 - at 53 sites throughout Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey. (See attached list for specific information on cleanup locations, times and dates). Each volunteer will receive an original Coastal Cleanup T-shirt, courtesy of Delmarva Power, the primary corporate sponsor of the event for 20 consecutive years.
"Unfortunately, many people who visit our region's beaches and rivers over the summer leave behind a lot of trash," said Matt Likovich, Delmarva Power spokesman, during a cleanup kickoff news conference on Thursday in Ocean City. "Add to that the debris that often washes ashore and you have the potential for serious pollution. Delmarva Power is proud to sponsor Coastal Cleanup because it reflects the kind of environmental stewardship that is central to our business."
The regional Coastal Cleanup is part of International Coastal Cleanup, sponsored by Ocean Conservancy, an organization that works to protect the world's oceans. The types and quantities of trash collected will be itemized. The data will then be used to pinpoint the source of debris and focus on ways to reduce or eliminate waste.
In last year's cleanup, more than 2,600 volunteers collected an estimated 27,000 pounds of trash. The usual soda cans and cigarette butts were found as well as a few oddities, such as a shopping cart, jar of cherry peppers, flagpole and Sponge Bob balloons.
2010 Coastal Cleanup Locations, Times, Dates & Contacts
Delaware (42 sites) - 9 a.m., 9/25/10 Joanna Wilson, 302-739-9902
Site locations can be found at www.dnrec.delaware.gov
New Jersey (1 site)
Maurice River, Cumberland County - 9 a.m., 9/25/10 Alyssa Jones, 609-861-4120
Maryland (10 sites)
Assateague Island - 9 a.m., 9/18/10 Kim Fehrer, 410-629-1538
Ocean City - 9 a.m., 9/18/10 Gail Blazer, 410-289-8221
Nanticoke River, Nanticoke - 9a.m., 9/18/10 Judith Stribling, 410-548-4767
Megan Ward, 410-873-3045
Beaverdam Creek, Salisbury - 9 a.m., 9/18/10 Mary Seemann, 410-860-6880
Renee Fredericksen, 410-742-4988, ext. 109
Pocomoke River , Snow Hill - 9 a.m., 9/18/10 Ron Pilling, 410-632-3971
Nassawango Creek, Snow Hill - 9 a.m., 9/11/10 Joe Fehrer, Jr., 410-632-4761 or 410-430-1743
Sailwinds Park, Cambridge - 9 a.m., 9/25/10 Laura LeBlanc, 443-205-2981
Tuckahoe State Park - 9 a.m., 9/18/10 Darryl Calloway, 410-438-3151, ext. 145
Hammond Branch of Little Patuxent River, Laurel - 9 a.m., 9/18/10 Sue Muller, 410-313-4697
Janes Island State Park , Crisfield - 9 a.m., 9/25/10 Ranger John Somers, 410-968-1565
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Delmarva Power, a public utility owned by Pepco Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: POM), provides safe and reliable energy to nearly 498,000 electric delivery customers in Delaware and Maryland and over 123,000 natural gas delivery customers in northern Delaware .