Landowners ordered to obey environmental legislation

Two landowners have been instructed to obey environmental legislation and remove the material they placed along the bank of a river in Oregon.

Robert and Marilyn Malloy allegedly placed riprap, a material used to armour shorelines from waves and water erosion, along the Rogue River at their property in Eagle Point, which is located 40 miles from the California-Oregon border.

Tony Barber, Oregon operations office director for the US Environmental Protection Agency, said that the onus is on property owners to do their research and make themselves aware of local regulations.

"The consequence of not doing so is too great: Our valuable water resources and wildlife are put at risk," he said.

In the spring of 2006, material was left along a 345-foot section of the waterway on the 63 acres of property belonging to the Malloys, who did not possess the required Clean Water Act permits from the US Army Corps of Engineers.

Written by Joseph Hutton