[Sly Fox]

From the fishwrap ...

Liberty University fined for wetland damage

By Sarah Watson
Published: August 19, 2008

Liberty University will pay about $9,200 in fines imposed by the state Department of Environmental Quality for wetland and stream damage caused by dorm construction.

The damage is considered minor, DEQ enforcement officer Marvin Booth said. It involves a small amount of forested wetlands and 65 feet of a small stream next to the Campus East residence halls.

And here is evidence that Jerry Jr. grows more like his father everyday ...

“If anyone made a mistake, it was our surveyor and we weren’t willing to take a big hit on it, so we made a counter-offer,” Falwell said. “I just see it as harassment by the DEQ. They’re trying to control everybody’s property in the state of Virginia.”

Click Here for Full Story

[TylerBakersGonnaBGreat]

haha Get em Jr!

[LUconn]

DEQ initially proposed about $30,000 in fines, but LU countered with a $9,270 fine, which DEQ accepted, Falwell said.

Sounds like the DEQ was real confident in their case. What a bunch of weasels.

[4everfsu]

I love reading the articles about LU and seeing the natives responses. I could make a fortune on selling high blood pressure in the burg

[RagingTireFire]

I love reading the articles about LU and seeing the natives responses. I could make a fortune on selling high blood pressure in the burg

I want to find one of those computers that randomly puts words in all caps for you. Seriously, I'm pretty sure that the post left by "Freedom" had to be translated into English from its original Klingon.

[tinytim]

the thing is, LU put a bridge and moved the stream to try and make up for the $9200 of fines. This was done a year ago, they are just now releasing the numbers.

[flamesbball84]

pretty much any development on the LU/wards road side of town could be fined for environmental damage since they are constantly sending sediment and other things into college lake on lakeside drive (the development on wards road has been one of the main culprits for the destruction of the lake since pretty much any runoff ends up in college lake due to being part of the college lake watershed). wal-mart could probably be fined well over $500,000 for all the crap they let go into the lake.

[LUconn]

Environmental damage. To the man-made lake. The man-made lake used for recreational purposes. Yes I can see how the deterioration of a lake that shouldn't even exist is a real threat to mother nature and deserving of a fine.

[flamesbball84]

Environmental damage. To the man-made lake. The man-made lake used for recreational purposes. Yes I can see how the deterioration of a lake that shouldn't even exist is a real threat to mother nature and deserving of a fine.

college lake is connected to many other NATURAL streams throughout the city. therefore, when the lake is damaged, other streams throughout the city are damaged. that's called environmental damage...

[tinytim]

Looks like fighting words to me

[Rocketfan]

upon further review that lake or pond has been a poop hole for years.....


Over the years, College Lake has served as an interceptor of sewage during extreme precipitation and resulting stormwater events. Such occurrences have dramatically decreased since the 1980's when the City of Lynchburg began implementing a Combined Sewer Overflow Program [via the Lynchburg company Wiley and Wilson]," according to Watershed Development and Sediment Accumulation in a Small Urban Lake.

http://www.critograph.com/home/index.cf ... 987ffd823d

[LUconn]

Environmental damage. To the man-made lake. The man-made lake used for recreational purposes. Yes I can see how the deterioration of a lake that shouldn't even exist is a real threat to mother nature and deserving of a fine.

college lake is connected to many other NATURAL streams throughout the city. therefore, when the lake is damaged, other streams throughout the city are damaged. that's called environmental damage...

We're talking about sediment building up in the lake. Not toxic waste from the nuclear power plan. Pretty sure the only thing being ruined is the lake.

[Rocketfan]

pretty much any development on the LU/wards road side of town could be fined for environmental damage since they are constantly sending sediment and other things into college lake on lakeside drive (the development on wards road has been one of the main culprits for the destruction of the lake since pretty much any runoff ends up in college lake due to being part of the college lake watershed). wal-mart could probably be fined well over $500,000 for all the crap they let go into the lake.

Try all the documentation ive read says 50 years of construction has hurt this crap hole, not specific development from one project or entity. Nice try though shuck....

[JDUB]

i was told that when those developments were built on wards, including walmart, they had to pay huge environmental fees of some type just to appease the tree huggers.
anyone who flips out about putting crap into a craphole is a hippie

[flamesbball84]

pretty much any development on the LU/wards road side of town could be fined for environmental damage since they are constantly sending sediment and other things into college lake on lakeside drive (the development on wards road has been one of the main culprits for the destruction of the lake since pretty much any runoff ends up in college lake due to being part of the college lake watershed). wal-mart could probably be fined well over $500,000 for all the crap they let go into the lake.

Try all the documentation ive read says 50 years of construction has hurt this crap hole, not specific development from one project or entity. Nice try though shuck....

I didn't say it was specifically wards road, it's one of the main culprits - not the only culprit - because it's been one of the most heavily developed areas.

actually, i'll highlight the part that mainly indicates otherwise since you didn't see it the first time.

the development on wards road has been one of the main culprits

Try reading the documentation that says development on wards road has been one of the biggest culprits for all of the sediment and etc. draining into college, it's not hard to find.

[Purple Haize]

Tye you have a pool at your place don't you?
Yeah, a Pool and A pond, a pond would be good for you
Pool, pond whatever as long as its wet

[PeterParker]

So I was reading a moutain bike blog tonight and came across these comments about what LU has done for the Liberty/Candler Mountain...kind of a nice alternative to the other comments and offers some support that LU is actually doing some things to keep the natural setting nice for everyone to enjoy it. So some are appreciative of the development.


http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=719

Eclipce Review: The trail variety is amazing, The downhills blow everything else around Lynchburg out of the water. Be prepared to hike up a few of the uphills. LU has done a great job keeping up the trails and keeping more coming.

frking Review: There are enough trails to make repetitions rare, and enough variety that I haven't been bored in more than a decade of riding here. I say these are national level quality, having ridden in UT, Pisgah and Slatyfork, WV and NorCal. The renovations implemented by Liberty U have only made an epic trail system more accessible and sustainable. A major thanks to the University for this gift to the community.

[LUconn]

that last one is a pretty darn good review.

[Hold My Own]

i was told that when those developments were built on wards, including walmart, they had to pay huge environmental fees

I'm sure that is the case...about 3 excavating company's went bankrupt during the process I'm sure 99% of that was b/c it was PURE rock but I'm sure some hefty fees from the DEQ also sealed their fate

[JDUB]

actually the excavating company wouldn't be the one footing the enivornment fees. that would be the developer that subs them out. they went bankrupt b/c they didn't plan for the solid rock haha. If I were them I'd check the soil before giving a quote

[Hold My Own]

no kidding...that really took everyone off guard Doc really didnt know how bad it was until they started digging...I'm sure he would have been a lot lest hesitant on selling at first had he known...that was crazy...they were using dynamite like they were rag heads over there!

[JDUB]

...they were using dynamite like they were rag heads over there!

[Sly Fox]

And some resolution ...

LU & DEQ Reach Fine Agreement
posted 11:27 pm Tue September 09, 2008 - Lynchburg, VA
reporter: Len Stevens posted by: Webteam

Liberty University won't be paying any fines to the state Department of Environmental Quality. The DEQ has withdrawn its fine for the University allegedly not following the rules of a permit granted to build dorms. The department ruled the construction caused some minor wetland and stream damage. Both LU and the department now acknowledge there was a misunderstanding.

Click Here for Full Story

[Sly Fox]

Not so fast, my friends ...

DEQ reconsiders fines to Liberty University

By Sarah Watson
Published: September 10, 2008

The Department of Environmental Quality is revisiting proposed civil penalties on Liberty University for stream and wetland damage allegedly caused during dorm construction last year.

LU issued a news release late Tuesday afternoon saying the DEQ had “withdrawn a proposed order imposing fines on Liberty University” in relation to the case and that “both Liberty and DEQ acknowledged that a misunderstanding had arisen with respect to the proposed civil charge.”

Here is where it gets interesting ...

DEQ officials won’t publicly discuss specifics because the case is back in the active investigation stage, said Bill Hayden, DEQ director of public affairs, on Wednesday.

“All I have to say is this is still an active enforcement case and the violations are still unresolved. We are still working on it and we expect a new public notice to be issued soon.”

Click Here for Full Story

[TallyW]

Looks like DEQ is losing a lot more money than the proposed 9k fine by allowing their staff to even think about this any longer.