NEWARK – After investigating an illegal dumping complaint made to DNREC’s Division of Community Affairs, Natural Resources Police Environmental Crimes Unit arrested a New Castle woman Thursday, Aug. 2 in connection with the incident.

Merle M. Moore, 46, was charged with one count of causing or contributing to the disposal or discharge of solid waste materials at the Polly Drummond Hill Road Yard Waste Demonstration Site in Newark. The charge carries a minimum fine of $500.

Moore was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 11 in New Castle and released on her own recognizance, pending trial at a later date.

The Polly Drummond Yard Waste Site allows Delaware residents to drop off yard waste from their own yard. Commercial businesses are not eligible to drop off yard waste at this site. Yard waste consists of plant materials from lawn maintenance and landscaping activities such as: grass clippings, leaves, prunings, brush, shrubs, garden materials, Christmas trees, and tree limbs up to four inches in diameter. Only loose material can be left; plastic bags and other containers must be emptied and removed from the site. Leaving construction debris such as lumber and fencing at the site is not permitted.

Residents are encouraged to report illegal trash dumping to DNREC’s Natural Resources Police Environmental Crimes Unit by calling the 24-hour environmental complaints line at 800-662-8802.

CONTACT: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 48, No. 214

LAUREL – DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife needs help from the public to stop dumping and vandalism at the Robert L. Graham Nanticoke Wildlife Area near Laurel, notably at an unpaved crossroad connecting Phillips Landing Road with Sharptown Road. Past dumping and vandalism resulted in closure of this road.

Recently, the 4,415-acre Nanticoke Wildlife Area has been plagued by an array of illegal activity, including: dumping trash, furniture, appliances, scrap tires, and yard waste; damaging access roads with vehicles; and destroying access gates within the wildlife area.

While Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police monitor the Nanticoke Wildlife Area closely, the public can help conserve and reduce damage to public wildlife areas by reporting suspicious or illegal activity to Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police at 302-739-4580 or 800-523-3336.

Follow Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Facebook, www.facebook.com/pages/Delaware-Fish-Wildlife-Natural-Resources-Police.

Follow Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Twitter, https://twitter.com/DE_FW_NRPolice.

Contact: Lt. John McDerby, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913 or 302-354-1386, or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 48, No. 170