Who dumped trash in SJ wildlife area?

MONROE TWP. - Officials are looking into why trash from a National Park Service site in Philadelphia was dumped on state-protected land in South Jersey.

A local hiker who frequents the Winslow Wildlife Management Area discovered the trash Labor Day weekend along a remote dirt road in the state-owned, 8,300-acre tract that spans both Monroe in Gloucester County and Winslow in Camden County.

Paper debris in the pile of boards, signs and books and documents carried the name Eastern National Park and Monument Association, which operates museum stores and produces publications for the National Park Service in Philadelphia and in 34 states. A Chestnut Street address in Center City Philadelphia also was listed on banking documents, receipts and other papers.

"The DEP’s Division of Fish and Wildlife Law Enforcement this morning received the report about illegal dumping at the Winslow Wildlife Management Area. It is currently under investigation...(and) we are assessing and collecting evidence," DEP spokesman Larry Hajna told the Courier-Post Tuesday.

The department offered no additional information on Wednesday.

The National Park Service also is looking into the situation.

"We recently became aware of this incident and are currently investigating the matter," said park service spokeswoman Gina Gilliam.

Meanwhile, an Eastern National Park marketing executive admitted the trash came from its storage space at the Chestnut Street address and that a trash hauler was hired to dispose of it. The contracted trash hauler then hired a subcontractor to do the job instead, according to Eastern National.

"Eastern National takes full responsibility for the disposal," Emily Geesaman, Eastern National marketing manager said Wednesday.

Geesaman said Eastern National hired 7 Stars Cleaning LLC, based in Monroe Township, to get rid of the trash.

A representative for 7 Stars Cleaning told the Courier-Post on Wednesday afternoon it wasn't them.

"Just yesterday we were notified about this issue and immediately reached out to the trash hauler with whom we had contracted to determine the cause, and remedy the situation. We’re told that, as of this morning, the trash has been removed. We are still working to confirm this and have requested photos of the cleaned site," Geesaman said.

"We're currently working with the hauler to understand how and why the material was disposed of in this manner," she continued.

"According to the trash hauler, all trash from the trail and surrounding areas left by the subcontractor and other dumping parties totally unrelated has been removed as a good faith gesture for the incompetence of paid subcontractor."

Geesaman called it "absolutely appalling and unacceptable" that trash was dumped in the wildlife management area.

"Eastern National supports the National Park Service in their efforts to protect and preserve America's National Parks and public lands — not trash them. While we were upset to learn about this issue, we're glad that it was brought to our attention, so that we could rectify it and properly dispose of the debris."

She added that Eastern National also is taking corrective actions with the vendor "to ensure this does not happen again."

She also conceded papers with employee cellphone numbers and agency bank account information should have been shredded instead of thrown out as trash.
Hiker Alan Kirkby of Monroe said he found the trash pile inside the preservation area Sunday and reported it Tuesday morning to the state DEP when its offices opened. He also found another smaller pile of similar trash along Huber Avenue close to the wildlife area.

"It was pretty shocking to see it had originated with a park service (associate) organization. I hope they find the responsible party and they are held accountable," he said.

Carol Comegno: (856) 486-2473; ccomegno@gannettnj.com