E.P.A. Reaches Settlement with Wayne County, Mo., Landowners for Clean Water Act Violations

(Lenexa, Kan., Oct. 7, 2015) - E.P.A. Region seven has reached a suggested settlement that includes a $35,000 penalty to settle violations of the Clean Water Act associated with Wayne County, Mo., landowners Roger and Ken Williams. The property is located near Clubb, Mo.

E.P.A. alleges that the Williamses placed fill material into a tributary of Turkey Creek in an attempt to build a lake on their property without 1st obtaining a necessary permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Under the Clean Water Act, landowners are required to consult with the Corps and obtain proper permits before engaging in earth-moving plans that cause damming or adverse impacts to waterways.

These actions impacted approximately 2,200 linear feet of stream. Placing fill material in a stream degrades watershed health, limiting the movement of fish, other aquatic organisms, and organic material. This can result in a decrease in wildlife diversity and directly impacts downstream landowners. The Corps discovered the violation during an April 2014 inspection, and referred the action to EPA.

As part of the agreement, the Williamses will protect 4,870 linear feet of stream and 27.7 acres of adjacent land on their property from future development to mitigate for lost aquatic functions.

The Clean Water Act looks for to protect streams and wetlands that form the foundation of the nation's water resources. Clean water upstream is necessary to have healthy communities downstream. The health of rivers, lakes, bays, and coastal waters depend on the streams and wetlands where they begin. Streams and wetlands provide many benefits to communities by trapping floodwaters, recharging groundwater supplies, filtering pollution, and providing habitat for fish and wildlife.

The suggested settlement is subject to a 30-day public review period before it becomes final. Information on how to submit comments is accessible online.

There are currently no comments for this story. Be the first to add a comment!
Click here to add a comment about this story.