By VDC staff

What initially looked like a large-scale littering problem along the Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail in Sheldon turned out to be a well-intentioned cleanup effort that created some unintended problems of its own.

Vermont State Police said Wednesday that investigators identified the person responsible for placing a large quantity of trash, scrap metal and other waste along the edge of the rail trail near Sweet Hollow Road.

An investigation by the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, aided by members of the public and the media, determined the individual had been trying to clean up privately owned wooded property bordering the trail.

“The individual involved has been identified,” police said. “Investigation revealed the individual had good intentions and was attempting to clean up the privately owned wooded area along the edge of the rail trail.”

The problem was where the material ended up.

Police said the cleanup effort created hazardous conditions for people using the trail and left the Vermont Agency of Transportation facing a “significant financial burden” to remove the accumulated waste.

VTrans employees discovered the material Sept. 28 and initially reported that most of it appeared to have come from adjoining properties and had been deposited along the trail. Authorities said at the time that the debris posed safety and environmental concerns as well as substantial cleanup costs.

The individual was told to stop placing material along the trail and was instructed to work with local town governments and private property owners if he wants to continue cleaning up the area safely.