Dalton fined $137,345 for environmental violation

Sierra Times ^ | Posted on Mon, Feb. 17, 2003 | Associated Press

[TonyWojo]

DALTON, Ga. - The city of Dalton has been fined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for improperly filling in wetlands and tributaries without a permit, federal officials said.

The agency's penalty will cost the city $137,345. But the city only has to pay the government $34,345 if it gives the rest of the fine to the Nature Conservancy for the purchase of land to expand the Chattahoochee National Forest.

City officials likely will appeal the fine, said Councilman Mike Robinson.

"We reported the problem," Robinson said. "I fail to see what the benefit would be of taking that revenue from the citizens of Dalton."

The city was fined for filling in 0.7 acres of wetlands and 2,276 linear feet of tributaries to Mill Creek without a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, EPA officials said.

The city previously offered to purchase 30 acres of Conasauga riverbank for $324,160 to replace the damaged wetlands.

"We went out of our way to mitigate circumstances," Robinson said. "What they are wanting to do is fine us the maximum amount they can."

Information from: Chattanooga Times/free Press

[Mr. K]

since when does the USEPA have the right to impose and collect fines? with what due process? is this done in a court room?

[TonyWojo]

It may not be long before The Nature Consevency will impose and collect fines.

[Redbob]

"City officials likely will appeal the fine, said Councilman Mike Robinson."

I certainly hope so.
The EPA has become little more than a group of pirates going around extorting money from cities at gunpoint, then handing it over to liberal "advocacy groups" like the Nature Conservancy who spend as much on political lobbying as they do on "conservancy."

[TonyWojo]

ping

[doodad]

I used to work emergency response for the EPA as a contractor. Not only can they levy fines they can take you to jail. They prefer not to however as they like money better. Helps with their bloated salaries for doing nothing. The state EPAs have the same authority. I am not sure that appeals are heard in court or in review panels, but I suspect courts. The larger cases certainly are ie US vs General Electric.

[madfly]

TNC ping

[B4Ranch]

bump

[Carry_Okie]

Since when is the Nature Conservancy to be a recipient of public fine money?

[HairOfTheDog]

We can't have government entities suing each other for money. That is madness.

[Grampa Dave]

This is just one way that TNC and Club Sierra raise funds: The agency's penalty will cost the city $137,345. But the city only has to pay the government $34,345 if it gives the rest of the fine to the Nature Conservancy for the purchase of land to expand the Chattahoochee National Forest.

[Carry_Okie]

Hell where I live the County Planning Department routinely fines the Department of Public Works for grading violations!

It's a way of transferring budgets without incurring the legislative process totally under the control of the County Chief Administrative Officer. One has only to read the list of unconstitutionally delegated powers in the employment contracts for these CAOs to appreciate what is really going on across the nation.

Cute isn't it?

[HairOfTheDog]

Cute isn't it?

It is hideous.

[hattend]

The agency's penalty will cost the city $137,345. But the city only has to pay the government $34,345 if it gives the rest of the fine to the Nature Conservancy for the purchase of land to expand the Chattahoochee National Forest.

So the Nature Conservancy is finally outed as the land launderer for the Feds. How can the NatCon expand National Forest land? Interesting how the NatCon can extort money without even trying. What is there tax status?

[TonyWojo]

Tax status is Non-Profit (10th largest) 501c3 exempt status.

[AuntB]

you said, " with what due process? is this done in a court room?"

We are "environmental regulations" with the Nature Conservancy in our hip pocket...we don't need no stinkin' due process!

[hattend]

Hardly seems fair, doesn't it? They can has the government force you to pay them and then they don't have to pay taxes.

[hattend]

Hardly seems fair, doesn't it? They can have....

Geez, even with preview...

[Iconoclast2]

This is the kind of stuff we'd expect from a Clinton Administration. Why can't we get Republicans with good foreign and domestic policies?

[Iconoclast2]

It doesn't take any more than an Executive Order to put a stop to that.