Warren County will pay a $3,000 fine related to allegations the road department illegally removed rock from Massas Creek in 2014.Commissioners on Monday voted unanimously to sign an agreement proposed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency to settle the disputed fine.The consent agreement and final order stated the county had violated the Clean Water Act by discharging pollutants into the creek, located in the southwestern portion of the county. The rock was reportedly removed in October 2014 when the creek bed was dry.According to the order, the county authorized the use of earth-moving equipment during gravel mining operations in three sections of Massas Creek. The county’s actions impacted approximately 2,595 linear feet of the stream, according to the allegations.The allegations were confirmed when an official with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers inspected the creek Feb. 11, 2015.The county does not admit nor deny the allegations, according to the order.“There was a misunderstanding,” Southern District Commissioner Hubie Kluesner said. “We issued a flood plain permit to the road department and they took that further than maybe they were supposed to.”Commissioners said they were unsure who may have turned the county in to the EPA.The county was facing a fine slightly in excess of $13,000, but was able to get the amount lowered during an appeal process, commissioners said. The county was represented by Travis Elliott, a Springfield-based attorney who also serves as legal counsel for the Missouri Association of Counties.The county commission also noted that U.S. Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer was instrumental in helping settle the disputed fine.Commissioners said they have applied for a permit that will allow them to legally remove rock in the future.“It will allow us to harvest rock per the Corps’ guidelines,” Kluesner said.Northern District Commissioner Dan Hampson added: “We have a better rapport with (the Corps) as a result of this.”EPA