EPA threatens to fine couple $40 MILLION for building house on their own lot

[Melensdad]

The EPA is fining an Idaho couple $37,500 PER DAY for the last 3 years until they return their parcel of land back to its original condition, which they allege is a protected wetland sanctuary. The couple is expected to rip out the utility lines, remove the dirt they had brought in, plant trees every 10 feet, fence in the property, and leave it sit for 3 years. The case is going to the U.S. Supreme Court with the Pacific Legal Foundation defending them.


EPA to property owner: 'Your land is our land'

Just imagine. You want to build a home, so you buy a $23,000 piece of land in a residential subdivision in your hometown and get started. The government then tells you to stop, threatens you with $40 million in fines and is not kidding.

That's the case now before the U.S. Supreme Court, with briefs being filed today by the Pacific Legal Foundation on behalf of a Priest Lake, Idaho, family, Chantell and Mike Sackett.

The case developed when the Sacketts bought a .63-acre parcel of land for $23,000 in a subdivision in their hometown of Priest Lake, Idaho. The land is 500 feet from a lake, had a city water and sewer tap assigned, had no running or standing water and was in the middle of other developed properties. The couple obtained all of the needed permits for their project and started work. Suddenly, the Environmental Protection Agency showed up on the building site, demanded that the work stop and issued a "compliance order" that the couple remove the fill they had brought in, restore the land to its native condition, plant trees every 10 feet, fence it off and let it sit for three years.

Then they would, for costs estimated at roughly a quarter of a million dollars, be allowed to "request" permission from the government to build on their own land.

Or else, warned the agency, there is the possibility of fines of $37,500 per day – with the total now surpassing $40 million.

Chantell reported she was told by the EPA that if "you're buying a piece of property you should know if it's in wetlands."

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe8TBXgwpnw"]PLF fights the EPA to protect a couple's dream - YouTube[/ame]

 

[bczoom]

A perfect case of why the EPA needs to be torn completely apart. Throw their whole rule book out and start over. I also believe some should be put in jail and others should just get some justice from the public they've harassed over the years.