U.S. Army Corps claimsillegal filling of wetland

FEDERAL OFFICIALS ARE CITING THE OWNERS of a Berkeley Springs property for filling in about half an acre of wetland without a permit. Karen Auer, spokesperson for the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers in Pittsburgh, told The Morgan Messenger on Monday that the notice of violation was to be sent soon.

The property at the northern edge of town is owned by Mayor Susan Webster and her husband, Peter Moss, according to West Virginia officials who took part in the investigation.

Army Corps regulatory representatives recently inspected the lot after the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection referred the matter to them. Also taking part in the inspection were the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources.

The Army Corps of Engineers did not release details of the notice of violation. The property has been used for dumping material from the Berkeley Springs water pipe project and rubble from the Morgan County Courthouse demolition.