The Planning and Natural Resources Department issued a verbal stop work order Aug. 8 to St. John resident Elvis Marsh for illegally dumping 10 truckloads of fill dirt on land in Coastal Zone Management’s first tier, DPNR officials said Friday.
Planning spokesman Jamal Nielsen said dumping fill dirt requires a CZM permit. “It’s unclear as to the purpose,” he added.
The dirt was dumped close to the water’s edge adjacent to a vacant lot that sits next to the Island Blues bar and restaurant building.
Dave Rosa, Planning’s CZM inspector on St. John, said the work started Aug. 8, the same day as the stop work order was issued. Rosa said he got a phone call alerting him to the dumping.
“Elvis Marsh was driving the truck,” Rosa said.
Nielsen said a written cease and desist order was slated to be issued Friday.
Nielsen and Rosa said that Marsh, Virgin Developers LLC and the owner of the property where the fill originated will all get notices of violation.
Nielsen said who owns the land where the fill originated is still under investigation. No record of Virgin Developers LLC could be found at the Lieutenant Governor’s Office.
Rosa said an order to remove the fill could be part of the corrective action. He said fines also could be imposed.
