Virginia Developers Ditch Streams, Face $1.3M Penalty

LYNCHBURG, VA – A tangled web of developers responsible for the Liberty Village housing project in Lynchburg is facing a hefty price for allegedly trashing Virginia’s waterways. Federal prosecutors have secured a settlement requiring Savoy Senior Housing Corporation, Savoy Liberty Village LLC, SDB Construction, Inc., Best G.C., Inc., and Acres of Virginia, Inc. to cough up $300,000 in penalties and fund over $1 million in environmental repairs.

The feds say the companies systematically violated the Clean Water Act between July 2001 and January 2003. During the construction phase, they allegedly bulldozed over 3,765 feet of streams and filled in vital wetlands – the headwaters feeding into the Roanoke and James Rivers. The result? A torrent of silt and sediment choked nearby waterways, including Pine Lake, and damaged the delicate ecosystems downstream.

Instead of following proper permitting procedures, the developers allegedly went rogue, burying streams and ignoring environmental safeguards. Once a stormwater permit *was* obtained, they continued to violate its terms. The damage wasn’t just about aesthetics; the destruction of these wetlands and streams compromised flood control, water filtration, and the health of aquatic life. According to the EPA, the altered water flow is now faster and warmer, stressing and killing plants and animals.

The current property owner, Liberty Ridge, LLC – who wasn’t involved in the original violations – will implement a $250,000 on-site restoration plan funded by the penalized developers. But the bulk of the financial hit comes in the form of $825,000 the companies must spend on credits for regional stream and wetland restoration projects. The plan includes restoring one stream, enhancing four ponds, planting native species, and battling invasive plants.

This isn’t a simple fix-it-and-forget-it deal. The consent decree dictates that any future sale or transfer of the property *must* include a clear notice stating it’s subject to this agreement, ensuring the restoration area remains protected. The feds aren’t taking any chances with repeat offenses. The decree also prohibits any further disturbance of the restored areas.

The settlement is currently under a 30-day public comment period before receiving final court approval. Those interested can view the full consent decree on the Department of Justice website: http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html. The EPA also offers information about wetlands and stormwater permitting requirements at http://www.epa.gov/owow/ and http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=6.