The Michigan Attorney General issued an October 20th news release stating that Vincent Tomczak, of Leland Township, Michigan, was arraigned in the 86th District Court on one count of Filling, Draining, or Dredging a Wetland without a Permit.
The individual is alleged to have dredged and filled between 1 and 2 acres of protected wetlands property beginning in 2023.
Michigan is one of the few states that has received authorization from the federal government to administer the Federal Wetland Program. Part 303 of Michigan’s Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act regulates the state’s wetlands. An individual must obtain a permit under Part 303 from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (“EGLE”) prior to impacting a wetland that is regulated.
The Michigan Attorney General’s news release states that EGLE:
… sent multiple site violation notices and restoration orders, contacted Tomczak directly over the alleged violations, visited the site multiple times, and in 2024 executed a search warrant at Tomczak’s property.
The news release alleges that despite the referenced notice to obtain certain permits and that restoration would be required, the individual made no restoration efforts at the property, despite many opportunities to do so, and that unlawful wetland violations continued after notices were issued.
The individual is stated to be scheduled to appear before the 86th District Court for a pretrial conference on January 27, 2027.
A copy of the news release can be found here.
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