The Sacketts, property owners in Idaho, filled a wetland on their property with the intent to build a home, but they did so without first obtaining a Clean Water Act permit. This action led to legal consequences for them.
Specifically, their actions involved:
- Filling a Wetland: The core action taken by the Sacketts was the filling of a wetland area.
- Purpose: Their goal in filling the wetland was to facilitate the construction of a new home.
- Permit Violation: Crucially, they proceeded with this activity without acquiring the necessary permit under the Clean Water Act, which is a federal law designed to protect water quality.
- Consequence: As a direct result of filling the wetland without the required authorization, the Sacketts were subsequently cited and fined.