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EPA reaches $40,000 settlement with Idaho Property Owner and Contractor for wetlands violations

Release Date: 04/28/2008
Contact Information: John Olson, EPA Wetlands Program, (208) 378-5756, [email protected] or Tony Brown, EPA Public Affairs, (206) 553-1203, [email protected]

(Ponderay, Idaho – April 28, 2008) Robin S. Behrens, Charles E. Kramer and C.E. Kramer and Contracting, Inc., of Bonner County, Idaho have reached a $40,000 settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act. The violations involved filling wetlands on Robin Behrens' property near Lake Pend Oreille without a permit.

According to EPA, in fall 2005, the property owner and contractor discharged fill material into a half-acre of wetlands located on Robin S. Behrens’ property. The parcel is adjacent to Lake Pend Oreille near Ponderay, Idaho.

The illegal action was reversed in May, 2006, when the property owner and contractor repaired the damage and restored the site under the direction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

According to Jim Werntz, EPA’s Idaho Operations Director, wetlands provide important wildlife habitat, prevent flooding and provide other community benefits.

“Protecting Idaho’s shrinking wetlands is a top priority for EPA, especially around Lake Pend Oreille," said Werntz. "Construction in a wetland should be avoided if at all possible, but if it’s unavoidable, great care must be taken and all proper permitting secured before any work starts.”

For more information about Wetlands protection work, visit: http://epa.gov/owow/wetlands