![[logo] US EPA](http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
Greenbytes: August 13, 2003 Edition
In this IssueGreetings from EPA New England. We hope you find this edition of Greenbytes useful and we encourage you to give us feedback. Please send an email to Paul Wintrob with your thoughts, comments or suggestions: wintrob.paul@epa.gov
EPA New England has been busy on the wetlands protection front, ordering two area farms to restore freshwater wetlands that were damaged in violation of the Clean Water Act. Earlier this month, EPA ordered Thomas Calabrese, owner of Calabrese Farms in Southwick, MA, to remove fill and restore the water flow to 5.5 acres of former wetlands that had been filled. According to the order, Calabrese filled the wetlands in the late 1980s to create more farmland after he acquired the 18.7-acre farm. The order stems from a June inspection of the site by EPA, the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The violation was first found by the NRCS in 1994. The NRCS found wetland vegetation had been cleared, the site had been dredged or filled and the hydrology had been manipulated through pipes and ditches that diverted water away from the wetlands. The case comes on the heels of a settlement last month in which a Berwick, Maine turf farm agreed to pay a $27,500 penalty and restore 54.5 acres of destroyed wetlands. The case stemmed from EPA claims that the turf farm illegally dredged and filled the wetlands. The Tuckahoe Turf Farm and the Tuckahoe Land Investment Co. also agreed to create conservation easements on two parcels in Berwick, including 108 acres of ecologically significantly land. The project is estimated to be worth more than $150,000. The two parcels will permanently protect habitat for the Blandings turtle, a state listed endangered species, and the spotted turtle and black racer, state listed threatened species. The public will be given access to the land for hiking and other low impact activities. Based on an anonymous tip in 1999, EPA NE investigated the Tuckahoe Turf Farm and learned that the farm, which produces sod for residential and commercial use, had dredged and filled wetlands on two separate lots. The company stopped work at that site after EPA began its investigation. “These cases illustrate that EPA will pursue wetlands violators and make sure valuable habitat is restored,” said EPA NE’s Regional Administrator Robert W. Varney. “They also illustrate that it is far less costly to comply with our nation's environmental laws than to violate them.” Web Resources:
Press Releases EPA proposes fine of up to $137,500 against Portland Co. for violating Clean Water Act EPA orders Southwick farm to restore 5.5 acres of wetlands EPA & DOJ Recover $2.5 Million In Cleanup Costs at NH Waste Site EPA Announces Major Grant to Improve Monitoring and Water Quality at NH Beaches EPA and Nashua Agree on Plan for Reducing Sewage Overflows to Area Rivers EPA to Begin Cleanup in Lyman, ME EPA Announces Major Grant to Improve Monitoring and Water Quality at ME Beaches
Events and conferences are not archived. Please refer to the Regional Calendar for upcoming events and conferences.
Car-Free Transportation Alternatives - cool new web site Center for Environmental Industry & Technology - business opportunities, recent newsletters Colleges and Universities - updated multi media checklist and common violations Connecticut State Unit - updated press and actions Energy & New England’s Environment - updated text and links GE Superfund Site - upcoming meeting notice Lead Paint - keep it clean campaign added NPDES Permits - updated text & additional permits posted Otis Superfund Site - new five year report added Particulate Matter (PM) in New England - updated text and links Salvage Yard and Auto Recyclers - new survey Smog - Air Quality - we are now issuing alerts for particulate matter as well as for ozone
"In The News" is a free daily service that provides links to today's top newspaper stories about the New England environment and links to related EPA New England information. In The News Email Service: As soon as today's edition of "In The News" has been posted we will email you a listing of the day's environmental news. |
