Douglas County May to Pay $13,937.10 Fine for Improper Well Work

LAKE NEBAGAMON – The Wisconsin Department of Justice has been awarded a default judgment against Pepper R. Craft, d/b/a Gary Lind Well Drilling, of Lake Nebagamon, for violations of state laws regulating well drilling and safe drinking water.

According to the complaint, filed at the request of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Craft is an unlicensed well driller who drilled 10 wells without a license, and submitted 4 inaccurate well reports, 144 late well construction reports and 127 late water samples. Craft has also failed to submit 28 well construction reports and 23 water samples. Craft, who did not respond to the State's complaint, had a default judgment entered against him by Dane County Circuit Court Judge David T. Flanagan on January 14, 2011. Craft will be required to pay $13,937.10 in forfeitures, costs and surcharges, and to submit the missing reports to the DNR.

"We will continue to work with the DNR to make sure that Wisconsin's environmental laws maintaining safe drinking water are followed," said Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen.

Assistant Attorney General Mary Batt prosecuted the case.