U.P. man fined $150k, ordered to restore St. Marys River wetlands

SAULT STE. MARIE, MI — A judge has ordered an Upper Peninsula man to pay a $150,000 civil fine and restore wetlands on an island in the St. Marys River that regulators say were developed without a permit.

On Nov. 3, a Chippewa County Circuit Court judge ordered excavator Boyd Rhodes to restore approximately 5.5 acres of wetlands and a stream on Sugar Island, which state environmental officials say he illegally dredged and filled-in to create a lake and build a cabin.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel sued Rhodes on behalf of the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), which alleged Rhodes ignored wetlands law violation notices and restoration orders dating back to 2014.

Nessel’s office says Rhodes dredged and filled about 5.8 acres of regulated wetlands and rerouted 430 feet of a stream to create an 11-acre lake without obtaining permits. He installed utilities and built a cabin at one of the three Sugar Island Township properties.

Read more: https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2021/11/up-man-fined-150k-ordered-to-restore-st-marys-river-wetlands.html