A Seaside Heights 25-year-old will pay more than 21-thousand dollars in penalties for tossing housing debris in a Lacey Township wildlife refuge. Adam Wardell admitted leaving eight bags of refuse in the Greenwood Forest Management Area In April, according to state environmental officials.

The enforcement is a part of the DEP's "Don't Waste Our Open Space" campaign that was launched in March that has so far led to the arrest or enforcement actions against 10 individuals. On April 26, a Conservation Officer located eight garbage bags with siding shingles containing asbestos and other debris along Dover Road. An examination of the contents led officials to Wardell.

According to the DEP press release, Wardell acknowledged to Division of Fish & Wildlife Conservation Officers that he was paid by Brick Township homeowners to remove the garbage bags and elected to dump the bags in the conservation area. Wardell was charged with illegally dumping solid waste in a State Wildlife Management Area.

Wildlife Law Enforcement Division Chief Mark Chicketano said "state conservation officers will aggressively prosecute any person or persons who tarnish these natural lands for the purpose of illegally disposing of waste."

A written state said, "The "Don't Waste Our Open Space" program is a coordinated effort of a number of DEP agencies, which includes Parks, Fish & Wildlife, Solid Waste, Water Resources, State Forestry Services and Natural Lands Trust. For more information about the campaign's activities visit their web site at www.stopdumping.nj.gov. "

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