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EPA action protects over 100 acres of Coastal Wetlands

Release Date: 01/04/2007
Contact Information: Steve Roy, (206) 553-6221, [email protected] Tony Brown, (206) 553-1203, [email protected]

(Ocean Shores, Wash. – Jan. 4, 2007) Dunes Estates Inc. has agreed to permanently preserve and enhance over 114 acres of wetlands as part of a settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for violations of the Clean Water Act (CWA). Dunes Estates was charged with dredging and filling wetlands adjacent to the Pacific Ocean and Connor Creek without a permit. The wetlands are just north of Ocean Shores, WA. Under the terms of the agreement, Dunes Estates Inc. has agreed to:

· enhance 2.9 acres of wetlands impacted during the excavation of wetlands along Connor Creek;
· create approximately 3.4 acres of wetlands;
· permanently preserve over 114 acres of wetlands and wetland buffers; and
· pay $8,000 in penalties.

“Protecting Washington's shrinking wetlands is a top priority for EPA," said Tom Eaton, EPA's Washington State Director in Olympia. "Wetlands provide significant wildlife habitat as well as provide benefits to neighboring property owners. Anyone working in wetlands must obey the law and protect them."

EPA has been working very closely with Dunes Estates Inc., the Army Corps of Engineers, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Grays Harbor County to assure that the corrective actions contained in the enforcement agreement will compensate for the loss of 1.7 acres of coastal dune wetlands and the excavation of 2.7 acres of wetlands adjacent to Connor Creek, a salmon bearing creek.

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