Central Virginia property owner to pay $300K for Clean Water Act violations 

Since 1972, the U.S. Clean Water Act has set a framework that seeks to preserve the health of water by restricting pollutants that enter the ground or waterways. That includes wetlands and streams. 

Last week, the owner of an agricultural operation in Central Virginia was sentenced in the United States Eastern District Court for a violation of the act. 

“Beginning in or around 2017, and continuing to in or around 2019… defendant BOYD FARM, LLC knowingly discharged and caused the discharge of pollutants, specifically soil and fill material, from a point source. specifically excavation and earth moving equipment, into and within the waters of the United States, without having obtained a permit under the authority of the Clean Water Act,” reads a briefing filed by the U.S. Attorney’s office on June 21. 

On Friday, the Eastern District Attorney’s office announced Frazier T. Boyd III was sentenced on June 26 to pay a $300,000 fine for a felony violation of the Clean Water Act. He was also sentenced to 30 days of home confinement and a year of probation. 

The violations occurred at three sites according to the release including one in Louisa County. The case built after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency notified Boyd and Boyd Farm in 2015 ordering the restoration of impact wetlands, but the violations kept occurring with workers placing debris and dirt into streams on three properties. 

“Unpermitted discharges like these can destroy habitat and degrade the pollution cleaning function of wetlands,” the release continues. “The United States does issue permits to fill wetlands under some conditions. Boyd Farm and Boyd knew of the requirement for these permits but did not seek or obtain them for any of their properties.” 

Before you go: The time to write and research of this article is covered by paid subscribers to Charlottesville Community Engagement. In fact, this particular installment is from the July 1, 2024 edition of the newsletter. To ensure this research can be sustained, please consider becoming a paid subscriber or contributing monthly through Patreon.