Wall Street Exec Busted for Filling in 1.5 Acres of Wetland

Busted! A smarmy Wall Street executive got smacked down for some pretty heinous offenses against the environment on his sprawling estate in northern Maine. Robert Greenhill, former president of Morgan Stanley and former chairman and CEO of Smith Barney, was expanding his airstrip on the western shore of Moosehead Lake when he filled in 1.5 acres of wetland.

Greenhill and his wife own more than 3,200 acres, and their vacation home was built under a climate-controlled dome. The Portland Press Herald called this so-called ‘kingdom estate’ one of the most elaborate ones seen in the state.

From the Portland Press Herald:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said in a news release issued today that the couple filled wetlands while expanding an airstrip for their private jet and digging a rock quarry sometime between 2001 and 2005. The damage is a violation of the federal Clean Water Act and wetland protection rules, EPA says.

The couple also got in trouble with federal regulators in 1997 when they created a trout pond on the property and disturbed about a half-acre of wetland without first seeking a Clean Water Act permit.

Wetlands serve as wildlife habitat, groundwater discharge and recharge areas, sediment and toxin removal and flood water storage. The wetlands disturbed by the Greenhills were part of larger forested complex and adjacent to two tributaries that flow into Moosehead Lake, according to the EPA.

The fine is expected to be as much as $157,500, which unfortunately won’t be too big of a hit for this millionaire, especially compared to his last mishap: his $440,000 Porsche Carrera GT was destroyed when the owner of an auto body shop crashed while returning it. We call that karma, biyatch!

Link [Portland Press Herald]

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