Interested observers will have the next month to comment on a proposed $5,888 civil charge for erosion and sediment control violations at an exclusive golf resort being built in Roanoke County.

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation cited the facility several times last year for failing to have in place appropriate sediment control or seeding during the development of Ballyhack in eastern Roanoke County.

Ed Liggett, storm water enforcement specialist for the department, said the developer, Fountainhead Land Co., has corrected all of the problems and agreed to conditions that include the charge.

Liggett said it is not uncommon to issue repeated reminders to the developer of such a large development, and that a golf course is "a unique animal" in terms of sediment control because of its size and topography.

He noted that while Fountainhead agreed to pay the charge and is now considered in full compliance with environmental regulations, state law gives the public an opportunity to comment on the violations cited or others it believes the department may have missed.

Most common, however, are comments "that they feel we are not being aggressive enough or the penalty is not high enough," Liggett said.

Jonathan Ireland, Ballyhack's director of operations, said Fountainhead was glad to work with the inspectors and immediately corrected any spots where their erosion protection measures were deemed inadequate.

He said that compared with a typical golf course, Ballyhack involved relatively little earth-moving, but did require scraping off some of the surface layer to place the specific turfs that the company wanted.

Ireland said course construction and seeding was completed last fall and "is establishing beautifully now." The course is scheduled to open to members in late June, he said.

Once the 30-day comment period is over May 12, the company will pay the charge and that would conclude the process.

Comments or requests for copies of the order may be submitted by mail, e-mail or fax, Liggett said. They can be sent to Edward Liggett, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, 900 Natural Resources Drive, Suite 800-DCR, Charlottesville, VA 22903; by calling (434) 220-9067; by faxing (804) 786-1798; or by e-mailing ed.liggett@dcr.virginia.gov.