Now that a nonprofit organization has identified 217 illegal dump sites in Butler County, the goal is to remove the blights.

Todd Crouch, program manager for PA Cleanways, which identified the dumping grounds, said sites are prioritized by their size and proximity to waterways.

The organization's affiliate, PA Cleanways of Butler-Lawrence Counties, will now use the survey results to start cleanup efforts.

The dump sites, which are scattered across the county, contain more than 316 tons of trash, according to the survey.

"We got our work cut out for us," said Jerry Zona, executive director of PA Cleanways of Butler-Lawrence Counties.

He said efforts will focus on properties where people other than the owner littered garbage along a road or ravine.

Of the surveyed sites, 72 percent are near some body of water while 16 percent had waste materials directly in the water.

The most common type of trash left at the sites are hard items to dispose of, such as tires and appliances.

"Tires were everywhere," Zona said.

Recyclables, including cans, glass, and plastic bottles, also were found at the sites.

PA Cleanways stated in its report that illegal dumping mainly occurs in secluded rural areas. Of the 57 municipalities in the county, 35, or 61 percent, have illegal dumping activity.

The only borough in the county to have dump sites is West Liberty, with three.

Dan Przybylek, chairman of the Buffalo Township board of supervisors, was undaunted by the survey results, which shows 11 sites in his township.

"Every crisis has an equivalent opportunity," he said.

Przybylek plans to work with township residents in cleanup efforts. He supports efforts such as this survey in cleaning up trash polluting the environment.

"Who knows what's going into the water supply," Przybylek said.

These municipalities had no dump sites identified: Butler, Bruin, Cherry Valley, Chicora, Connoquenessing, East Butler, Eau Clair, Evans City, Fairview, Harmony, Harrisville, Karns City, Mars, Petrolia, Portersville, Prospect, Saxonburg, Seven Fields, Slippery Rock, Valencia, West Sunbury and Zelienople.

Upon completing the 2007 report, PACleanways notified the municipalities, the county and the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Freda Tarbell, DEP spokeswoman, said the state typically helps fund PA Cleanways' efforts to clean up such dump sites through Growing Greener grants.

She said such surveys show the state where cleanup funding would most effectively be used.

PA Cleanways is looking for volunteers wanting to clean up a particular site and financial donors.

Zona said dump site cleanups are a community effort, pulling together municipal governments, residents and business owners.

One cleanup in the county is already scheduled for 2008. Working with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, PA Cleanways will clear a 500-yard stretch between Bruin and Boyers.

"It's just strewn with piles of metal," Zona said.

Butler is the 15th county PA Cleanways has surveyed for illegal dump sites. The organization will continue the surveys across the state until all 67 counties are covered.