In St. Charles, Maryland, developer James J. Wilson was convicted of illegally filling in a wetland—with water. This, despite the findings of a renowned environmental consultant who testified that construction of a pond in a damp, wooded area attracted more wildlife and "had no adverse environmental impact," a conclusion the federal government did not seriously dispute. The wetland was a full six miles away from any "navigable" waterway that would place it under federal control.

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