Landowner to pay $10,000 for Clean Water Act violations in Central, Alaska

Summary:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that Ryan Smith and Noah Smith, landowners in Central, Alaska, will pay a fine of $10,000 for violating the Clean Water Act. In April 2021, they cleared over five acres of wetlands adjacent to Crooked Creek without a permit, resulting in the discharge of organic and mineral soils, gravel, and other materials into the wetlands, including those owned by the State of Alaska. The EPA has required the Smiths to implement a restoration plan, conduct annual monitoring for five years, and preserve over five acres of wetlands important for birds and wildlife. This case highlights the importance of compliance with permits and regulations to protect the Nation's waters.