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AUGUSTA — Landowner Appreciation Cleanup Day is Saturday, Sept. 14. The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Division of Forestry is seeking volunteers for this year’s effort.

Forest Rangers working in cooperation with the Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine, Maine Snowmobile Association, ATV Maine, the Boy Scouts of America and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, as well as other recreational groups, are seeking to clean up more than 100 illegal dump sites in Maine.

In other parts of the country, most undeveloped forest land is posted, and recreationists are required to pay club fees to use locations. Maine landowners have a history of sharing their forest and farm lands with responsible outdoor recreationists. Millions of acres of working farms and forests are open to the public for enjoyment throughout the year. Unfortunately, the Maine privilege of enjoying access to private lands is threatened every time irresponsible people litter or illegally dump trash.

“Landowner Appreciation Cleanup Day is a way to say thank you to property owners for allowing Mainers and visitors access to private lands for outdoor activities, recreation and enjoyment,” said Gov. Paul R. LePage. “Efforts like this demonstrate that most Maine people understand that public access to private lands is a special privilege to be respected and cherished, not a right.”

Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Commissioner Walt Whitcomb urged outdoor enthusiasts and organizations to support the effort by volunteering their time and energy.

Dump sites vary from a single piece of discarded furniture, a washing machine or discarded tires to several pickup-truck loads of shingles and mattresses. To make it easier for cleanup volunteers, dozens of maps have been created that show the exact dump site locations. Cleanup volunteers who live near an illegal dump site may have to spend only a half hour or less to help clean it up.

To volunteer contact Jeff Currier at 207-827-1800 or the Maine Forest Service at 1-800-750-9777.

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