The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality is inviting public input on a proposed settlement with Apex Land Group, LLC, stemming from alleged permit violations at a construction site in Fruitland, a small Payette County community near the Oregon border.

What Happened

DEQ alleges that Apex Land Group failed to comply with requirements of the Idaho Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (IPDES) 2022 Construction General Permit at the Aspen Meadows development site. The agency identified the violation as occurring on September 5, 2024.

Stormwater runoff from construction sites is regulated under IPDES permits to prevent sediment and other pollutants from entering nearby waterways. Developers operating under a construction general permit are required to implement erosion and sediment controls throughout the building process.

Terms of the Settlement

Apex Land Group has already signed the settlement documents and paid a civil penalty of $6,100 in full. The company’s cooperation and early resolution are reflected in the terms DEQ has put forward for public review.

The settlement is not final, however, until the public comment period closes. DEQ is required to solicit comment before formally approving enforcement agreements of this type.

How to Comment

Residents and interested parties have until 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time on August 16, 2026, to submit comments on the proposed settlement. DEQ is accepting input electronically, by email, or by mail addressed to Ben Johnson, Wastewater Enforcement Coordinator.

Settlement documents are available for review at the DEQ State Office, located at 1410 North Hilton Street in Boise, and on the agency’s Public Comment Opportunities page online.

Broader Context

The Fruitland enforcement action is one of many routine DEQ matters processed through Idaho’s environmental permitting system. Construction site stormwater compliance has drawn increased attention in recent years as residential development expands across southwestern Idaho’s fast-growing communities.

State agencies have continued normal operations even as the Legislature wrapped up the 2026 session earlier this year. Idaho closed its fiscal year with a $172 million revenue surplus and maintained its AAA bond rating, reflecting stable state finances heading into the next budget cycle.