PITTSBURGH -- Action was taken after a Target 11 investigation into the construction of a dock on the North Side. Target 11 investigator Rick Earle first reported on the controversy in October.

Now the Army Corps of Engineers is clamping down on the city of Pittsburgh.

The dock in question is on the Ohio River behind the now-vacant Western Penitentiary. Over the summer, Target 11 cameras captured members of the city’s Redd Up crew building it despite the fact that at least one City Council member knew nothing about it.

City Councilman Bill Peduto said, “The Redd Up crew decided on their own to take on a major project for the city of Pittsburgh.”

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl told Earle in October, “We just dedicated that this summer. I don't know that there are any problems with the dock.”

But Target 11 discovered a big problem. The city never obtained permits from the Army Corps of Engineers or the Department of Environmental Protection.

After surveying the dock, the Army Corps of Engineers determined that the impact on the river was minimal. It won’t level a fine, but it will send a letter advising the city they need to follow proper procedures.

Myron Arnowitt is the state director for the Clean Water Action group. He believes the Army Corps of Engineers should come down harder on the city.

Arnowitt said,” Certainly we would like them to take a tougher stance. I mean this is something we don't want to see this becoming a pattern. So when you catch it, you need to take some serious action so people know if I try to get away with it that I’m going to be fined or there are going to be some serious consequences. Yeah, just a letter seems to us to be pretty weak.”

The DEP says it will determine the appropriate action at the conclusion of the investigation. Target 11 will continue to follow this story. Look for continuous coverage on Channel 11 News and WPXI.com.