On January 17, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice, on behalf of the EPA Region 3, has filed a Complaint against North Landing Firewood & Hauling, Inc. (Defendants), to address violations of the Clean Water Act (CWA) involving unauthorized discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States at a 36-acre plot located in Virginia Beach, Virginia 23456. The United States filed suit in the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Virginia. The lawsuit alleges that the Defendants discharged dredged or fill material into 3.15 acres of wetlands that abut and have a continuous surface connection to the North Landing River, without obtaining federal permit coverage.
On January 24, 2024, EPA issued a Unilateral Administrative Order requiring Defendants to submit a plan to restore the impacted wetlands. The Defendants did not comply with that order. In the lawsuit, the United States seeks relief that would address the violations, including appropriate penalties, restoration of the impacted wetlands, and mitigation for any irreversible environmental impacts. This matter was referred to EPA by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The site is not located in a potential underserved community. (L. Zarrillo 4-2475, R. George 4-2713).