THIS IS A CWA REFERRAL FOR VIOLATIONS OF SECTIONS 301, 402, 404 OF THE CWA. THIS REFERRAL INVOLVES VIOLATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH DITCHING AND DRAINING OF WETLANDS IN ONSLOW COUNTY, NC. THE DEFENDANT, HOLLY RIDGE ASSOCIATES, L.L.C., OWNS AN APPROX. 1,262 ACRE TRACT WHICH IS ABOUT 30 PERCENT WEETLANDS, AND ON WHICH THEY HAVE CONSTRUCTED AN EXTENSIVE NETWORK OF LARGE DRAINAGE DITCHES. THEY DID NOT OBTAIN COVERAGE UNDER NC'S GENERAL PERMIT FOR STORMWATER DISCHARGES ASSOCIATED WITH CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY BEFORE COMMENCING CONSTRUCTION. ACCORDINGLY, TE ASSOCIATED STORMWATER DISCHARGES WERE NOT AUTHORIZED AND VIOLATED SECTION 301 AND 402 OF THE CWA. THE STORMWATER DISCHARGES HAVE CONTINUED FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND HAVE CAUSED MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF SEDIMENTS (E.G, 5 FEET DEEP IN SOME AREAS) TO BUILD UP IN WATERS AT THE SITE, WHICH INCLUDES WETLANDS ADJACENT TO CYPRESS BRANCH, BATTS MILL CREEK, STUMP SOUND AND THE ATLANTIC INTRACOASTAL WATERWA. THE DEFENDANT ALSO CAUSED DISCHARGES OF DREDGED AND/OR FILL MATERIAL DURING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DITCHING PROJECT DURING (1) MECHANICAL LAND CLEARING OF WETLAND AREAS OF THE SITE; (2) PLACEMENT OF DREDGED AND/OR FILL MATERIAL IN WATERS OF THE U.S. DURING DITCH SHAPING AND ALTERING OF DITCHES; (3) DEPOSITION OF SOIL, MARL, ROCK AND OTHER MATERIALS IN WATERS OF THE U.S. DURING CONSTRUCTI