DEC Issues Violations For Georgica Fence, Too

The Department of Environmental Conservation has added its own charges relating to the fence constructed in front of an oceanfront home in Georgica. 

On Tuesday, DEC spokesman Bill Fonda said a notice of violation was issued to homeowner Mollie Zweig on Friday, the same day that .

The DEC's violation was for "construction of an accessory structure in the adjacent area of a regulated tidal wetlands without the necessary permit to do so," Fonda said.

The potential fine is a maximum $10,000 per day per violation.

The violation was date was Sept. 6, but issued on Sept. 9, Fonda said. 

Zweig has 30 days from the receipt of the letter to contact the DEC and schedule a compliance conference. 

Environmental officers first visited the property on Sept. 1 . 

Zweig had said she lost 100 feet of sand and a snow fence at her home in the wake of Tropical Storm Irene, and Sullivan installed the pilings to retain sand, they said.

Though Zweig said she had a verbal approval from the village to restore her property, it turned out she did not have permits from either the village or the Department of Environmental Conservation. Village officials asked work to stop, which it did for several days.

However, the posts remained in place.

Then on the afternoon of Sept. 8 at, village Code Enforcement Officer Tom Lawrence issued a stop work order. But when he returned at 3:15 p.m., he said he observed work being done to extend the 6-foot pilings further above the sand.

On Friday just after noon, Lawrence served Zweig and Sullivan with summonses citing each of them for three counts of violating village law under sections pertaining to the beach - the Coastal Erosion Hazard Areas Act, which the DEC allows the village to regulate - and Preservation of Dunes.

Punishment under each section of the code vary from $250 to $1,000 in fines to up to six months in prison with regards to the Coastal Erosion law. They are due in on Oct. 14.