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Three Companies Settle Clean Water Act Case over Wetlands Violations in Suffolk, Va.

Release Date: 12/8/2004
Contact Information: Bonnie Smith, 215-814-5543

Bonnie Smith, 215-814-5543

PHILADELPHIA – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced that three companies have settled a Clean Water Act complaint over the unlawfully filling of protected wetlands in Suffolk, Virginia. J&J Clearing and Grading, Inc., Rountree Construction Company, Inc., and JSW Disposal Co. have agreed to pay a $32,500 penalty for the unpermitted filling of 8-3/4 acres of wetlands at J&J’s property at 3979 Pughsville Rd., Suffolk, Va.

Under the Clean Water Act, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit is required before dredged or fill material may be discharged into wetlands areas. The permit requirement is designed to minimize the destruction of wetlands, which serve a number of critical environmental and economic functions, including flood control, water filtration, wildlife habitat, and recreation.

According to EPA’s complaint, the cited parties did not have a permit before filling in about 8-3/4 acres of wetlands in May and October 2001. These wetlands, which are headwaters of the Nansemond and James river systems were filled with dirt, sand blast grit and mulch to create a road through the J&J property.

As part of the settlement, the companies neither admitted nor denied liability for the alleged violations.

For more information about wetlands and permitting requirements, visit https://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/ Compliance assistance to landowners is also available at https://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/landasst.html.