Recently the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency concluded 52 enforcement cases in 32 counties throughout Minnesota during the second quarter of 2018. From those enforcement cases, the penalties totaled just over $366,000. Included in those 52 enforcement cases were several businesses from Southern Minnesota. The largest area fine was assessed to a Faribault-based business.

Crown Cork and Seal USA Inc. of Faribault was penalized for air quality violations in the amount of $15,928. Also being penalized was Lakeside Foods Inc. of Owatonna, for industrial wastewater violations in the amount of $4,945. The largest penalty assessed in the second quarter went to Holdingford-based business EnTrans International LLC. They were penalized $49,325 for hazardous waste violations.

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.

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.

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
  • 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
  • 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

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