BREAKING NEWS

A Huntington Beach real estate investment firm under scrutiny by state and federal agencies for the alleged destruction of wetlands on a mobile home park is shutting down its main offices, representatives announced Tuesday. That firm, Mills Land & Water Co., announced the retirement of its 25-year president at the same time.

Mills president Robert Moore Jr. has retired as of April 8, spokeswoman Marice White said Tuesday. The company shuttered its offices in Huntington Beach—there are no others—as of the same date, she said.

“With Rob’s retirement there’s really not a need for an office,” White said. “The files and records will be properly documented and stored just like any other company.”

Principal partner Peter Wynn will take over authority of the company, she said. Mills will focus on cooperating with investigations and managing its existing properties, she added.

Recently Mills came under investigation by the city, the California Coastal Commission, Army Corps of Engineers, and Regional Water Quality Control Board after local environmental activist Jan Vandersloot sent them photos showing plants removed and water drained from protected wetlands during construction work on a gravel parking lot at the company’s Cabrillo Mobile Home Park in southeast Huntington Beach on Pacific Coast Highway.

The company is cooperating with investigations and still trying to figure out how plans to replace some gravel led to actions that drew serious scrutiny from regulators, White said.

“We are taking this very seriously,” White said. “We received the letters immediately from the agencies and have been working cooperatively to get a response together.”

Penalties for disturbing wetlands range from minor fees to million-dollar fines to jail time, depending on the enforcing agency, whether the act was intentional, how long it went on, and whether criminal prosecutors get involved.