The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency fined Heron Lake BioEnergy $18,174 for failing to properly maintain safety controls and inspect storage tanks on its property.

On May 21, 2025, MPCA inspectors visited the facility in Jackson County and saw multiple ethanol storage tanks that lacked proper overfill prevention systems, which are required in the facility’s permit. The company also failed to keep proper documentation of required weekly safety checks and internal inspections of the tanks.

In addition to paying the fine, the company will install proper overfill prevention systems where they are needed and submit plans to the MPCA to ensure ongoing inspection and documentation of storage tanks in its facility.

The MPCA remains committed to protecting human health and the environment by enforcing rules and regulations and limiting pollution and discharges from facilities. When facilities do not fully comply with regulatory requirements, the resulting pollution can be harmful to people and the environment.

When calculating penalties, the MPCA considers how seriously the violations affected or could have affected the environment, and whether they were first-time or repeat violations. The agency also attempts to recover the economic benefit the company gained by failing to comply with environmental laws in a timely manner.