Bollinger County, Mo., landowner Michael Zahner and his company, Zahner Management Company LLC, will pay a $105,000 civil penalty to resolve alleged violations of the federal Clean Water Act.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Zahner and his company filled in portions of streams to build two lakes on his property without obtaining the required Clean Water Act permits.
“The illegal filling of streams and other protected water bodies deprives downstream landowners and the public from the use and enjoyment of public waters,” said David Cozad, director of EPA Region 7’s Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division.
“These acts also impair our nation’s waters through downstream erosion and loss of wildlife habitat.”