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EPA reaches agreement with Wisconsin companies for filling in wetlands without a permit

Release Date: 06/21/2006
Contact Information: Phillippa Cannon, (312) 353-6218, cannon.phillippa@epa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 06 - OPA107

CHICAGO (June 21, 2006) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has reached an agreement with Ace Ethanol LLC, Stanley, Wis., and John S. Olynick Inc., Gilman, Wis., for allegedly filling in 7,900 square feet of wetlands in Stanley -- next to a tributary of the Wolf River -- without first obtaining the required permit. Under the terms of a June 15 consent agreement and final order the companies will pay a $61,000 penalty.

Under the federal Clean Water Act, a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is required to fill in waters of the United States, including wetlands.

Wetlands include marshes, bogs, swamps and similar areas between water and dry land. They are valuable because they filter pollutants, provide wildlife habitat, control flooding, reduce erosion, support fisheries and recharge ground water.