Not sure what to make of this case... He plowed his field; now he faces a $2.8 million fine It would create a precedent.... The federal court will almost certainly have to give legal definition to terms such as "wetlands" "runoff" etc. When that happens it becomes nationwide.
Someone here in Maine moved a rock from his waterfront beach about four feet, and was fined several thousand dollars by our state land use planning commission. They use Google Earth overlays to see if anything has changed, people can't move rocks on their own land in some places.
At some point we need to redefine our concept of "owning" land. With every piece of land, comes deeds, titles, covenants, restrictions and the all encompassing - "property owners shall abide by all rules, regulations, codes and laws where applicable". Failure to do so could result in fines, etc. Complying with every single item provides you with the privilege of paying property taxes and income taxes from any gain. Sweet deal... huh? We never really own anything, but we insist on saying we do.
Even "redefining" would be an endless cycle causing more lawsuits, etc in the end because one Court system and Judge will say one thing...and have it overturned by another Court system and Judge/Judges, etc., etc. I do agree that we never really own anything though.
They even told an organic farmer that he had to spray his fields with Round up because of one weed. So if he did that his business is ruined