ANR v. Meadowcrest Campground LLC ( 2017 )

State of Vermont MAY Jj 2017
Superior Court— Environmental Division
VERMONT .
wee e eee eee eee == = == === SUPEBIOR COURT
ENTAL DIVISION
ANR v. Meadowcrest Campground, LLC Docket No. 63-7-16 Vtec
(ANR Enforcement Emergency Order)
Title: Motion to Show Cause
Filed: March 22, 2017
Filed By: Petitioner Agency of Natural Resources
Response: None
X_ Granted __ Denied __ Other
A show cause hearing was convened May 1, 2017, with Randy Joe Miller, II, Esq., attorney
for Petitioner ANR participating. Respondent Meadowcrest Campground, LLC did not
participate and no representative of Respondent was present. The Court received testimony and
evidence from ANR. ANR’s witnesses Megan Cousino and Benjamin Montross provided the
Court with testimony establishing that Respondent has failed to comply with paragraphs A, D
and E of the May 11, 2016 Administrative Order. Paragraph A requires the payment of a $9,000
penalty. Paragraph D requires notice to users of the subject water system of Respondent's failure
to monitor for chemical contaminates. Paragraph E requires completion of an application for a
Class 1A/1B Vermont Water System Operator to monitor the system. The deadline for achieving
these requirements was August 22, 2016.
12 V.S.A. § 122 provides for the initiation of contempt proceedings against any party that
violates a court order, regardless of whether the case is currently active. This section does not
limit the parties against whom contempt proceedings may be initiated, nor does it limit the
persons that may be punished for their actions that are in contempt of a court order. Vt. Women’s
Health Ctr. v. Operation Rescue, 159 Vt. 141, 145 (1992); Horton v. Chamberlain, 152 Vt. 351, 354
(1989).
Compensatory fines and coercive sanctions may be imposed on a civil contemnor;
however, these must be purgeable, or avoidable, by adhering to the court’s order. Mann v. Levin,
2004 VT 100, { 32, 177 Vt. 261 (citing Vt. Women’s Health Ctr., 159 Vt. at 151); see 12 V.S.A. § 122;
State v. Pownal Tanning Co., 142 Vt. 601, 603-604 (1983). Further, imprisonment can be inflicted
as a means to compel the party to do some act ordered by the court. In re Sage, 115 Vt. 516, 517
(1949); see 12 V.S.A. § 123. This Court is prepared to impose such sanctions where a respondent
is ignoring a court order.
Based upon the foregoing, it is ORDERED that:
1. On or before June 1, 2017, Respondent shall complete all activities identified in the
May 11, 2016 AO, including but not limited to paragraphs A, D and E.
ANR y. Meadowcrest Campground., LLC, No. 63-7-16 Vtec (Motion to Show Cause) (May 1, 2017) Page 2 of 3.
2. Beginning on the date of this Order, and continuing until Respondents are in full
compliance with the May 11, 2016 AO, Respondents are hereby sanctioned a $100.00
per week fine. This accumulating fine is fully purgeable upon timely compliance;
meaning for the fine to be purged, the May 11, 2016 AO must be complied with on or
before June 1, 2017, or as extended for good cause. Should Respondents fail to comply
with the May 11, 2016 AO, the additional weekly fine will become due on June 1, 2017,
payable to the Vermont State Treasurer.
3. The Court will postpone consideration of potential incarceration at this time, however,
incarceration may be considered if Respondent fails to comply with the Court's order.
4. ANR requested reimbursement of its costs to pursue and participate in this show
cause hearing. The costs to ANR totals $222.15. Respondents are hereby sanctioned
the $222.15 reimbursement to ANR. This amount is fully purgeable upon timely
compliance; meaning for the required reimbursement to be purged, the May 11, 2016
AO must be complied with on or before June 1, 2017, or as extended for good cause.
Should Respondents fail to comply with the May 11, 2016 AO, the reimbursement of
$222.15 will become : on June 1, 2017, payable to the Vermont State Treasurer.
— fM [ - May 1, 2017
Thomas G. Walsh, Jude Date
Date copies sent to: Clerk's Initials
Copies sent to:
Randy Joe Miller, II, Attorney for Petitioner Vermont Agency of Natural Resources
Respondent Meadowcrest Campground, LLC