Opinion ID: 2207621
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Consent Decrees

Text: Thereafter, Oceanport started work on the pier. On November 10, 1988, DNREC filed a complaint in the Superior Court against Oceanport, alleging that on September 29, 1988, the Department discovered a project involving the construction, modification, repair or reconstruction of an industrial pier without the appropriate permits for the work in private subaqueous lands. On the same day Oceanport executed a consent decree with DNREC, agreeing to submit the appropriate permit application in accordance with 7 Del.C. § 7205. In return, the consent agreement authorized work to continue without the permit, but with strict guidelines on the physical size of the pier. Additionally, the DNREC reserved the right to order the removal of portions of the pier in the event the DNREC later determined they were unstable or environmentally unsound. On December 18, 1990, DNREC filed another complaint in Superior Court against Oceanport, alleging that Oceanport had constructed a conveyor system and hopper on the pier over public subaqueous lands in the Delaware River. The same day, a second consent agreement was filed, which imposed a $20,000 fine against Oceanport and provided that Oceanport was not to conduct any commercial activity on the pier until such time as the DNREC permits were issued.