Canal Corporation, Parks and Trails NY, EFC and CPB Seek Voluteers for Fourth Annual "Canal Clean Sweep"

ALBANY, NY (02/23/2009)(readMedia)-- In preparation for the upcoming 184th consecutive navigation season on the New York State Canal System and Earth Day 2009, the New York State Canal Corporation, in partnership with Parks and Trails New York, the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) and the New York State Consumer Protection Board (CPB), today announced that it is seeking volunteers for the Fourth Annual Canal Clean Sweep scheduled to take place during the weekend of April 17th - 19th, 2009.

New to this year's event, the CPB will kick off Canal Clean Sweepby providing consumers with an opportunity to do a "clean sweep" of their personal records, discs, CDs and DVDs and at the same time help the environment by hosting a free public Shredding Day on April 17, 2009, in the parking lot beside Aqua Vino Restaurant and Banquets at 16 Harbor Lock Rd. in Utica from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Shredding is a reliable way of safely and properly disposing of documents containing personally identifiable information that, if discarded improperly, could be a conduit to identity theft.

The Canal Clean Sweepwill help highlight the significance of the Canal System as a recreational and tourism destination in New York State by encouraging communities, businesses and not-for-profit organizations to engage in cleanup and beautification activities along the Canal System and the Canalway Trail.

During last year's weekend-long Canal Clean Sweep, more than 60 groups participated in events throughout the Canal corridor.

Carmella R. Mantello, Director of the Canal Corporation, said, "Each year the Canal Clean Sweepcelebrates Earth Day and gives volunteers an opportunity to work closely with their canal neighbors and our employees to spruce up public parks and scenic areas along the Canal System and the Canalway Trail. Last year's event was a great success and I encourage communities, business and volunteer organizations from across the corridor to participate by holding a clean up event in their neighborhoods. The Corporation is pleased to partner with Parks and Trails New York, EFC, and the CPB to organize the Canal Clean Sweep."

Robin Dropkin, Executive Director of Parks and Trails New York, said, "In these challenging economic times the Canal System and Canalway Trail, which are growing in prominence as a world-class tourism destination, become even more important as close-to-home recreational resources for local residents and all New Yorkers. For this reason we are pleased to collaborate with the Canal Corporation, EFC, and the CPB on the 2009 Canal Clean Sweepto engage community groups and citizens in cleaning up the Canal Corridor in advance of the summer season. The growth of this event over the past three years shows that local pride in the Canal and Canalway Trail is high and the spirit of volunteerism is alive and well across the state. We hope new organizations and municipalities will join those already engaged in sprucing up the Canal System to make the 2009 Canal Clean Sweep even more successful and fun."

Matthew Millea, Acting President of the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation, said, "EFC looks forward to partnering with the Canal Corporation, Parks and Trails New York, and the CPB on the Clean Sweep Program to commemorate Earth Day. This is a great way to help advance Governor Paterson's goal to increase community service and volunteerism. Thanks to the many volunteers, last year's event was a huge success and we expect even more participants in 2009. Volunteers can take pride in knowing that they are helping to improve the environment and protect our natural resources from pollution."

Mindy A. Bockstein, Chairperson and Executive Director of the New York State Consumer Protection Board, said, "Consistent with Governor Paterson's vision for a safer, cleaner and better New York State, the CPB is pleased to join with the Canal Corporation and the many participants and volunteers of the Canal Clean Sweepeffort. In celebration of Earth Day, and to help protect consumers against the threat of identity theft, I am encouraging New Yorkers to dispose of their personal documents in a safe, environmentally conscious manner, and inviting residents of Utica and the surrounding areas to shred their documents free of charge on Friday afternoon. Further, the CPB's Identity Theft Prevention and Mitigation Program experts are standing by to provide consumers with identity theft information and assistance during regular business hours."

The Canal Corporation, Parks and Trails New York, EFC, and CPB are seeking the assistance of canal communities and partners to organize clean up activities in Canal parks, along public promenades and on Canalway Trail segments in their region. The Canal Corporation will provide garbage bags and trash pickup following each of the events. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own gloves and supplies and wear comfortable clothing and shoes.

For more information on the Fourth Annual Canal Clean Sweep or to help coordinate an event in your community, please contact Wally Elton with Parks and Trails NY at (518) 434-1583 or email canalsweep@ptny.org. To register events on-line, please visit Parks and Trails New York's website at www.ptny.org.

The New York State Canal System is comprised of four historic waterways, the Erie, the Champlain, the Oswego and the Cayuga-Seneca Canals. Spanning 524 miles across New York State, the waterway links the Hudson River, Lake Champlain, Lake Ontario, the Finger Lakes and the Niagara River with communities rich in history and culture.

For more information regarding events, recreational and vacation opportunities along the Canal System, please visit www.nyscanals.gov or call 1-800-4CANAL4.

Parks and Trails New York is the only statewide nonprofit organization working to expand, protect and promote a network of parks, trails and open space across New York State for all to enjoy. Its work includes advocacy, outreach, technical assistance to communities, bicycle tourism promotion, and bicycle tours such as Cycling the Erie Canal. For more information on the programs administered by Parks and Trails New York, please visit www.ptny.org.

EFC is a public benefit corporation dedicated to promoting environmental quality through a wide range of funding and technical assistance programs focused on protecting, improving and restoring New York State's natural resources. EFC's largest programs are its highly successful Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, which together have provided more than $11 billion in low-cost financing and grants for projects that provide New Yorkers with safe drinking water and help protect the quality of our precious water resources. EFC also administers the State's Clean Vessel Assistance Program (CVAP), which was established to protect and improve water quality in New York's navigable waterways, including the canal system. CVAP provides grants to assist marinas, municipalities and not-for-profit organizations install pumpout and dump station facilities that receive sanitary waste from recreational marine vessels.

For information on the programs administered by EFC, please visit www.nysefc.org.

The CPB, established in 1970 by the New York State Legislature, is the State's top consumer watchdog and think tank. In addition to the on-line complaint form, the website is home to important consumer safety information and resources. The CPB's core mission is to protect New Yorkers by publicizing unscrupulous and questionable business practices and product recalls; conducting investigations and hearings; enforcing the "Do Not Call Law"; researching issues; developing legislation; creating consumer education programs and materials; responding to individual marketplace complaints by securing voluntary agreements; and, representing the interests of consumers before the Public Service Commission and other State and federal agencies.

For more information about identity theft prevention and mitigation and other consumer-oriented issues, or to file a consumer complaint with the CPB, consumers may call the Agency's toll-free hotline at 800-697-1220 or visit CPB's website at www.nysconsumer.gov.

###