Wealthy couple poison neighbor’s trees for ocean view, contaminates beach
In a tale of greed and environmental recklessness, a wealthy couple from Missouri allegedly poisoned their neighbor’s trees to enhance their ocean view. Thus, leading to severe environmental contamination in Camden, Maine. Amelia Bond, former CEO of the St. Louis Foundation, and her husband Arthur Bond III, an architect, reportedly used a powerful herbicide, Tebuthiuron, to kill trees obstructing their view of Camden Harbor from their summer home.
The trees were on the property of Lisa Gorman. She is the widow of L.L. Bean’s former president, Leon Gorman. Suspicious of the dying trees, Gorman had them tested. As a result, uncovering the use of the hazardous herbicide. Not only has the incident led to the destruction of trees, but also contaminated a nearby park. In addition, the town’s only public beach.
Local outrage is palpable, with Camden residents and officials expressing their anger at the couple’s actions.
“Anybody dumb enough to poison trees right next to the ocean should be prosecuted, as far as I’m concerned,” stated local resident Paul Hodgson.
The herbicide used is known for its persistence in soil. Also, it was infamously used in 2010 by an Alabama football fan to poison Auburn University’s iconic oak trees.
The Bonds, while acknowledging their actions, have faced over $1.7 million in fines and settlements. Despite this, the contamination’s long-term environmental impact remains a concern. Also, the Maine Attorney General has initiated further investigations.
Local legislator Rep. Vicki Doudera expressed frustration over the lenient penalties allowed by current laws and is advocating for stricter measures against such environmental violations. Meanwhile, the Bonds’ once-prominent social standing in Camden has been severely damaged. Many question their ability to reintegrate into the community.
Source: AP News
Wealthy couple poison neighbor’s trees for ocean view, contaminates beach
