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© St. Petersburg Times, published November 17, 2001
SPRING HILL -- The state Department of Environmental Protection is suing a Spring Hill man for not having the proper permits to operate a wastewater treatment plant.
The DEP is suing Paul Van Wart, one of the owners of the Meadows Mobile Home Park, for not getting a permit to operate the wastewater treatment plant that serves 23 people off Genessee Drive.
The DEP said Van Wart promised to get the proper permits in 1993 and to do a variety of things to maintain a retention pond that is part of the plant, such as trimming vegetation and installing a fence. The lawsuit says Van Wart did most of these things, but months late.
The DEP also alleges that Van Wart paid a $2,000 fine 78 days late and is asking the court to make Van Wart pay $100 for every day he was late. The DEP also asks that his plant not be allowed to operate until he gets the proper permits.
No health violations are said to have occurred.
"The plant is up to date," Van Wart said. "We've done everything we were asked to do."
Van Wart said he had not yet seen a copy of the lawsuit.