Law enforcement officers from the U.S. Forest Service are investigating items found in an illegal dump that was done some time earlier this week. The massive pile of garbage, that has been described as household items and construction debris, was thrown off the bridge over the South Fork of the Calawah River on Forest Service Road 2932.
The dumping was reported to the Pacific Ranger District office in Forks on Tuesday, June 30. Ranger Dean Millett investigated the site Tuesday afternoon and shared the information on Facebook Tuesday evening.
Community members immediately began to organize a clean-up party for Wednesday evening at 6 p.m.
Frank Geyer, Deputy Director/TFW Program Manager with Quileute Natural Resources in LaPush saw the Facebook post regarding the dumping and on Wednesday morning organized his crew at QNR to begin the clean-up. At 9 a.m. a group that included Jacob Turner, Gary Dean Jackson III, Greg Urata, Dustin Larkin, Keith Penn, and Perry Black were on the scene.
The Forest Service also called in the Clallam County Chain Gang to help, Forest Service personnel were also assisting.
Millett said, “We were able to get this cleaned up this morning [Wednesday]. Thanks go out to the Clallam County Chain Gang and Quileute Natural Resources. To everyone that volunteered to go out this evening thank you for your willingness to help.”
Millett said illegal dumping is an ongoing problem in this area. In addition to lawn clippings and other yard debris, that seem to fill each pull-out area along side the road, furniture, appliances and car parts litter the countryside.
Most illegal dumpers go unpenalized, but Millett is hopeful that there will be something in this litter that may identify the person or persons responsible.
He was not sure of the penalty for this act but said he is sure some sort of fine would be involved.
If you have any information on this or any illegal dumping activities please call 360-374-1222.