Chesapeake Appalachia pleads guilty to clean water act violations by WTRF, October 5, 2012
According to a release The Clean Water Act, also known as the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, prohibits the discharge of any pollutant from a point source into the waters of the United States without a permit. … Chesapeake is now facing a $600,000 fine and two years of probation. … The case was investigated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Criminal Investigation Division. Special Agent in charge of the EPA’s criminal enforcement in West Virginia, David McLeod said in one instance the company obliterated a natural waterfall. “Our nation’s wetlands play a critical role in maintaining water quality, reducing flood damage, and providing habitat for fish and wildlife,” McLeod said. “The defendant illegally filled at least three sensitive wetlands; in one instance obliterating a natural waterfall.” The parties have agreed that separate violations committed by Chesapeake and occurring in connection with impoundments constructed in Marshall and Wetzel counties would be addressed by civil penalties and not via criminal charges according to the release from Ihlenfeld.