DADAWG
Community Veteran
>
>
>The Dam
>
>
>
>This is an actual letter sent to a man named Ryan DeVries regarding a pond on
>his property. It was sent by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
>Quality, State of Pennsylvania . This guy's response is hilarious, but read
>The State's letter before you get to the response letter.
>
>
>
>State of Pennsylvania 's letter to Mr. DeVries:
>
>SUBJECT: DEQ
>File No.97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec 20; Lycoming County
>
>Dear Mr. DeVries:
>
>It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental Quality that
>there has been recent unauthorized activity on the above referenced parcel of
>property. You have been certified as the legal landowner and/or contractor who
>did the following unauthorized activity:
>
>Construction and maintenance of two wood debris dams across the outlet stream of
>Spring Pond.
>
>A permit must be issued prior to the start of this type of activity.. A review
>of the Department's files shows that no permits have been issued Therefore, the
>Department has determined that this activity is in violation of Part 301, Inland
>Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act
>451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the
>Pennsylvania Compiled Laws, annotated.
>
>
>The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams partially failed
>during a recent rain event, causing debris and flooding at downstream
>locations.. We find that dams of this nature are inherently hazardous and
>cannot be permitted. The Department therefore orders you to cease and desist all
>activities at this location, and to restore the stream to a free-flow condition
>by removing all wood and brush forming the dams from the stream channel. All
>restoration work shall be completed no later than January 31, 2010.
>
>
>Please notify this office when the restoration has been completed so that a
>follow-up site inspection may be scheduled by our staff. Failure to comply with
>this request or any further unauthorized activity on the site may result in this
>case being referred for elevated enforcement action..
>
>
>We anticipate and would appreciate your full cooperation in this matter. Please
>feel free to contact me at this office if you have any questions.
>
>Sincerely,
>David L. Price
>District Representative and Water Management Division.
>
>
>Here is the actual response sent back by Mr. DeVries:
>
>
>Re: DEQ File
>No.. 97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Lycoming County
>
>Dear Mr..Price,
>
>Your certified letter dated 11/17/09 has been handed to me. I am the legal
>landowner but not the Contractor at 2088 Dagget Lane , Trout Run, Pennsylvania .
>
>
>
>A couple of beavers are in the (State unauthorized) process of constructing and
>maintaining two wood 'debris' dams across the outlet stream of my Spring Pond.
> While I did not pay for, authorize, nor supervise their dam project, I think
>they would be highly offended that you call their skillful use of natures
>building materials 'debris.'
>
>
>I would like to challenge your department to attempt to emulate their dam
>project any time and/or any place you choose. I believe I can safely state there
>is no way you could ever match their dam skills, their dam resourcefulness,
>their dam ingenuity, their dam persistence, their dam determination and/or their
>dam work ethic.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>These are the beavers/contractors you are seeking. As to your request, I do
>not think the beavers are aware that they must first fill out a dam permit prior
>to the start of this type of dam activity.
>
>
>My first dam question to you is:
>(1) Are you trying to discriminate against my Spring Pond Beavers, or
>(2) do you require all beavers throughout this State to conform to said dam
>request?
>
>
>If you are not discriminating against these particular beavers, through the
>Freedom of Information Act, I request completed copies of all those other
>applicable beaver dam permits that have been issued. (Perhaps we will see if
>there really is a dam violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the
>Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of
>1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Pennsylvania Compiled Laws,
>annotated.)
>
>
>I have several dam concerns. My first dam concern is, aren't the beavers
>entitled to legal representation? The Spring Pond Beavers are financially
>destitute and are unable to pay for said representation -- so the State will
>have to provide them with a dam lawyer.
>
>
>The Department's dam concern that either one or both of the dams failed during a
>recent rain event, causing flooding, is proof that this is a natural occurrence,
>which the Department is required to protect. In other words, we should leave the
>Spring Pond Beavers alone rather than harassing them and calling them dam names.
>
>
>
>If you want the damed stream 'restored' to a dam free-flow condition please
>contact the beavers -- but if you are going to arrest them, they obviously did
>not pay any attention to your dam letter, they being unable to read English.
>
>
>In my humble opinion, the Spring Pond Beavers have a right to build their
>unauthorized dams as long as the sky is blue, the grass is green and water flows
>downstream. They have more dam rights than I do to live and enjoy Spring Pond.
> If the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection lives up to
>its name, it should protect the natural resources (Beavers) and the environment
>(Beavers' Dams).
>
>
>So, as far as the beavers and I are concerned, this dam case can be referred for
>more elevated enforcement action right now. Why wait until 1/31/2010? The Spring
>Pond Beavers may be under the dam ice by then and there will be no way for you
>or your dam staff to contact/harass them
>
>
>In conclusion, I would like to bring to your attention to a real environmental
>quality, health, problem in the area It is the bears! Bears are actually
>defecating in our woods. I definitely believe you should be persecuting the
>defecating bears and leave the beavers alone. If you are going to investigate
>the beaver dam, watch your dam step! The bears are not careful where they dump!
>
>
>
>Being unable to comply with your dam request, and being unable to contact you on
>your dam answering machine, I am sending this response to your dam office.
>
>
>THANK YOU,
>RYAN DEVRIES & THE DAM BEAVERS
>
>The Dam
>
>
>
>This is an actual letter sent to a man named Ryan DeVries regarding a pond on
>his property. It was sent by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
>Quality, State of Pennsylvania . This guy's response is hilarious, but read
>The State's letter before you get to the response letter.
>
>
>
>State of Pennsylvania 's letter to Mr. DeVries:
>
>SUBJECT: DEQ
>File No.97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec 20; Lycoming County
>
>Dear Mr. DeVries:
>
>It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental Quality that
>there has been recent unauthorized activity on the above referenced parcel of
>property. You have been certified as the legal landowner and/or contractor who
>did the following unauthorized activity:
>
>Construction and maintenance of two wood debris dams across the outlet stream of
>Spring Pond.
>
>A permit must be issued prior to the start of this type of activity.. A review
>of the Department's files shows that no permits have been issued Therefore, the
>Department has determined that this activity is in violation of Part 301, Inland
>Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act
>451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the
>Pennsylvania Compiled Laws, annotated.
>
>
>The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams partially failed
>during a recent rain event, causing debris and flooding at downstream
>locations.. We find that dams of this nature are inherently hazardous and
>cannot be permitted. The Department therefore orders you to cease and desist all
>activities at this location, and to restore the stream to a free-flow condition
>by removing all wood and brush forming the dams from the stream channel. All
>restoration work shall be completed no later than January 31, 2010.
>
>
>Please notify this office when the restoration has been completed so that a
>follow-up site inspection may be scheduled by our staff. Failure to comply with
>this request or any further unauthorized activity on the site may result in this
>case being referred for elevated enforcement action..
>
>
>We anticipate and would appreciate your full cooperation in this matter. Please
>feel free to contact me at this office if you have any questions.
>
>Sincerely,
>David L. Price
>District Representative and Water Management Division.
>
>
>Here is the actual response sent back by Mr. DeVries:
>
>
>Re: DEQ File
>No.. 97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Lycoming County
>
>Dear Mr..Price,
>
>Your certified letter dated 11/17/09 has been handed to me. I am the legal
>landowner but not the Contractor at 2088 Dagget Lane , Trout Run, Pennsylvania .
>
>
>
>A couple of beavers are in the (State unauthorized) process of constructing and
>maintaining two wood 'debris' dams across the outlet stream of my Spring Pond.
> While I did not pay for, authorize, nor supervise their dam project, I think
>they would be highly offended that you call their skillful use of natures
>building materials 'debris.'
>
>
>I would like to challenge your department to attempt to emulate their dam
>project any time and/or any place you choose. I believe I can safely state there
>is no way you could ever match their dam skills, their dam resourcefulness,
>their dam ingenuity, their dam persistence, their dam determination and/or their
>dam work ethic.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>These are the beavers/contractors you are seeking. As to your request, I do
>not think the beavers are aware that they must first fill out a dam permit prior
>to the start of this type of dam activity.
>
>
>My first dam question to you is:
>(1) Are you trying to discriminate against my Spring Pond Beavers, or
>(2) do you require all beavers throughout this State to conform to said dam
>request?
>
>
>If you are not discriminating against these particular beavers, through the
>Freedom of Information Act, I request completed copies of all those other
>applicable beaver dam permits that have been issued. (Perhaps we will see if
>there really is a dam violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the
>Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of
>1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Pennsylvania Compiled Laws,
>annotated.)
>
>
>I have several dam concerns. My first dam concern is, aren't the beavers
>entitled to legal representation? The Spring Pond Beavers are financially
>destitute and are unable to pay for said representation -- so the State will
>have to provide them with a dam lawyer.
>
>
>The Department's dam concern that either one or both of the dams failed during a
>recent rain event, causing flooding, is proof that this is a natural occurrence,
>which the Department is required to protect. In other words, we should leave the
>Spring Pond Beavers alone rather than harassing them and calling them dam names.
>
>
>
>If you want the damed stream 'restored' to a dam free-flow condition please
>contact the beavers -- but if you are going to arrest them, they obviously did
>not pay any attention to your dam letter, they being unable to read English.
>
>
>In my humble opinion, the Spring Pond Beavers have a right to build their
>unauthorized dams as long as the sky is blue, the grass is green and water flows
>downstream. They have more dam rights than I do to live and enjoy Spring Pond.
> If the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection lives up to
>its name, it should protect the natural resources (Beavers) and the environment
>(Beavers' Dams).
>
>
>So, as far as the beavers and I are concerned, this dam case can be referred for
>more elevated enforcement action right now. Why wait until 1/31/2010? The Spring
>Pond Beavers may be under the dam ice by then and there will be no way for you
>or your dam staff to contact/harass them
>
>
>In conclusion, I would like to bring to your attention to a real environmental
>quality, health, problem in the area It is the bears! Bears are actually
>defecating in our woods. I definitely believe you should be persecuting the
>defecating bears and leave the beavers alone. If you are going to investigate
>the beaver dam, watch your dam step! The bears are not careful where they dump!
>
>
>
>Being unable to comply with your dam request, and being unable to contact you on
>your dam answering machine, I am sending this response to your dam office.
>
>
>THANK YOU,
>RYAN DEVRIES & THE DAM BEAVERS
