Through the Agency's investigation, it was discovered that North Country Real Estate Development, LLC conducted logging on the property and, in the course of logging operations failed to comply with Acceptable Management Practices (AMPs) and numerous discharges to the Black River occurred.

This company has yet to install the AMPs, despite being told to do so by the Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation and being issued a Notice of Alleged Violation by Environmental Enforcement Officer Tim McNamara.

The matter came to light as a result of a citizen complaint. After McNamara's investigation was completed, North Country Real Estate Development, LLC was notified of the violation. An Administrative Order was filed and was about to go to trial when the matter was settled.

The settlement was reduced to an Assurance of Discontinuance and was so ordered by the Environmental Court on February 16, 2005. In it, North Country Real Estate Development, LLC agreed to hire a professional forester to draft a site remediation plan to be approved by the State Forester and then implemented. Because this is a second violation, one of the company principles will take the Logger Education to Advance Professionalism training course with the hope that future violations may be avoided. It was also agreed that a civil penalty of $5,000 will be paid to the State of Vermont for the violation.

Involved Department: Forests and Parks

Environmental Enforcement Officer: Tim McNamara

For Further Information please contact:
Attorney Gary Kessler at 802/241-3820 or email to gary.kessler@anr.state.vt.us