Cape Cod Company Agrees to Settlement for Federal Wetlands Violations

BOSTON – A Cape Cod company has reached a settlement with the EPA and Department of Justice for violations of the Federal Clean Water Act related to wetlands.

Idlewild Acres, and its owner Peter Wild, allegedly dredged and filled 14.7 acres of wetlands on its own property in East Sandwich without getting proper permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The company conducted the work to convert cranberry bogs into a tree and shrub nursey.

The settlement will require Idlewild Acres and Wild to establish or maintain about 12.7 acres of freshwater wetlands and ponds, along with 3.8 acres of ponds that were constructed in the wetlands.

The company must also place a conservation easement on the entire 14.7 acre area to permanently prevent uses of the property other than agriculture or nursey operations.

A civil penalty of $22,000 must also be paid.