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 24^th 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 .