Saint Paul MN (7/26/2018) – In its ongoing efforts to promote environmental compliance, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) concluded 52 enforcement cases in 32 counties throughout Minnesota during the second quarter of 2018. Penalties from all 52 cases totaled just over $366,000.
Environmental enforcement investigations often take several months, and in highly complex cases more than a year. Although, in rare instances, they can involve courts, they are most often negotiated settlements where the goal is compliance with environmental rules.
When calculating penalties, the MPCA takes into account how seriously the violation affected the environment, whether it was a first time or repeat violation and how promptly the violation was reported to appropriate authorities. The agency also attempts to recover the calculated economic benefit gained by failure to comply with environmental laws.
In addition to these 52 recently-completed cases, the MPCA also has 42 ongoing enforcement investigations, 19 of which were opened as new cases during the second quarter of 2018. Not all investigations lead to fines or other official action.
Imposing monetary penalties is only part of the MPCA’s enforcement process. Agency staff continue to provide assistance, support, and information on the steps and tools necessary to achieve compliance for any company, individual, or local government that requests it.
The following is a brief summary of all 52 cases completed during the second quarter of 2018:
EnTrans International LLC, Holdingford, for hazardous waste violations, $49,325
Scott Equipment Co., Arlington, for hazardous waste and industrial stormwater violations, $30,000
Hibbing Taconite Co., Hibbing, for industrial wastewater violations, $20,000
Chris Berry, Optimum Appliance and Recycling Center LLC, Ramsey, for hazardous and solid waste violations, $20,000
Crown Cork and Seal USA Inc., Faribault, for air quality violations, $15,928
Pipestone County, Hatfield, for construction stormwater violations, $12,995
Fabcon Inc., Savage, for air quality violations, $11,550
City of Baxter, Baxter, for municipal stormwater violations, $11,250
RJ Ryan Construction Inc., Eagan, for construction stormwater violations, $10,900
Associated Finishing Inc., Mankato, for hazardous waste violations, $10,725
Dale A. Larson, PDQ Sanitary Services Inc., East Grand Forks, for subsurface sewage treatment system violations, $10,000
St. Paul Engraving, Stacy, for hazardous waste and industrial stormwater violations, $9,986
US Home Corp, dba, Lennar, Corcoran, for construction stormwater violations, $9,725
United Properties, Eagan, for construction stormwater violations, $9,220
Duininck Inc., Hatfield, for construction stormwater violations, $8,935
Pro Line Painting, Minneapolis, for air quality violations, $8,688
Wakefield Pork Inc., Amboy, for feedlot violations, $8,200
Marvin Lumber and Cedar Company, Warroad, for air quality violations, $7,450
Blattner Energy Inc., Avon, for construction stormwater violations, $6,690
City of South St. Paul, South St. Paul, for municipal stormwater violations, $5,850
City of Barnum, Barnum, for wastewater violations, $5,541
Knutson Construction Services Inc., Avon, for construction stormwater violations, $5,150
Tom Marnik, Remer, for subsurface sewage treatment system violations, $5,070
City of Willmar, Willmar, for air quality violations, $5,065
Lakeside Foods Inc., Owatonna, for industrial wastewater violations, $4,945
Marvin Pearson, dba Pearson Livestock Trucking, Janesville, for industrial wastewater violations, $4,745
Crow Wing Recycling Inc., Brainerd, for industrial wastewater violations, $4,700
Robert Berger, Center City, for construction stormwater violations, $4,425
The First State Bank of Red Wing, Chaska, for underground storage tank violations, $4,300
City of Worthington, Worthington, for municipal wastewater violations, $3,600
Armadillo Investments III LLC, St. Cloud, for construction stormwater violations, $3,340
BTD Manufacturing Inc., Lakeville, for air quality violations, $3,320
PHB Excavating LLC, Motley, for subsurface sewage treatment system violations, $3,080
United Farmers Cooperative, Bird Island, for air quality violations, $3,000
Fyle’s Portables, Nisswa, for subsurface sewage treatment system violations, $2,950
Nodland Construction Company, Inc., Corcoran, for construction stormwater violations, $2,520
The Loppet Foundation Inc., Golden Valley, for construction stormwater violations, $2,475
KalCon LLC, Golden Valley, for construction stormwater violations, $2,475
The Polk County Agricultural Fair Assoc., Fertile, for solid waste violations, $2,300
Alex Construction Co. Inc., Alexandria, for subsurface sewage treatment violations, $2,000
ETOC Company Inc., Nisswa, for construction stormwater and solid waste violations, $1,875
CHS Inc., Erskine, for solid waste violations, $1,755
Mogren Landscaping LLP, Pine Springs, for construction stormwater violations, $1,625
SMI & Hydraulics Inc., Porter, for air quality violations, $1,563
Minnesota Metal Finishing Inc., Minneapolis, for air quality violations, $1,350
Quality Collision Center and Sandblasting, Inver Grove Heights, for air quality violations, $1,250
Early Iron Restoration, Rochester, for air quality violations, $1,250
Rasinski Excavating Inc., Nisswa, for construction stormwater and solid waste violations, $1,175
Ellen Marsh Properties, Blue Earth, for subsurface sewage treatment violations, $1,000
City of Gary, Gary, for wastewater violations, $600
Doboszenski and Sons Inc., Corcoran, for construction stormwater violations, $550
Opinion Brewing Company LLC, Newport, for solid waste violations, $500
A complete summary of environmental enforcement actions and news releases is available on the MPCA’s News Media Center webpage. For questions on specific enforcement cases, please contact Stephen Mikkelson, Information Officer at 218-316-3887, or toll free at 800-657-3864.
