Weston Property Owner To Pay Penalty For Wetlands Destruction

WESTON, MA—A Weston property owner will pay up to $40,000 in penalties and restore wetlands to settle allegations that he illegally altered and destroyed those protected areas and kept farm animals too close to brooks that flow into a public water supply, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

The consent judgment, entered Sept. 11 in Suffolk Superior Court, settles a lawsuit filed by the AG’s Office, alleging that Alexander Anza violated the state Wetlands Protection Act, Clean Waters Act and Safe Drinking Water Act.

“Wetlands are vital natural resources that protect our drinking water, prevent flooding, and provide important habitat for wildlife,” said AG Healey in a statement. “Our office will take action to protect public health and our environment.”

According to the AG’s complaint, Anza illegally built a stone wall along the bank of Stony Brook in Weston, cleared trees and other vegetation, and filled protected wetlands with rocks, gravel, and wood chips to construct an expanded driveway, livestock grazing areas, and a staging ground for cleaning animal carcasses, among other violations. These actions threatened to pollute Cherry Brook and Stony Brook, which feed into Stony Brook Reservoir, a drinking water resource for the City of Cambridge, said the announcement.

Following an inspection by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), Anza removed the chickens, geese, cattle, sheep and pigs that were kept at the property.

“Wetlands and public drinking water supplies are some of our most critical resources that must be protected,” said MassDEP Commissioner Martin Suuberg in a statement. “MassDEP will vigorously enforce the laws that regulate these resource areas to ensure protection of the environment and the public health.”

The consent judgment requires Anza to restore the altered wetlands in accordance with a restoration plan approved by MassDEP. In addition to restoring the wetlands, this settlement requires Anza to pay up to $40,000 in penalties to the state. As part of the agreement, the AG’s Office voluntarily dismissed claims against Anza’s father, Santo Anza, Sr., who originally owned the property and is now deceased.

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