State Fines Town Of York $75K For Building Seawall Without Permit

YORK, Maine - Maine environmental officials have fined a town $75,000 for building a seawall without a permit.The state's Department of Environmental Protection says York violated the Natural Resources Protection Act when it continued to build a stepped seawall along Long Sands Beach after learning a permit was needed.
 
The Portland Press Herald reports the work was being done to replace a seawall damaged during storms in 2017 and 2018.
 
In addition to the fine, other provisions of an agreement with the agency require York to build an educational kiosk on beach vegetation and to participate in a five-year monitoring plan to determine if the seawall is causing erosion.
 
Town selectmen voted Monday to accept the agreement but expressed frustration at the fine and permit requirement.