In its ongoing efforts to protect the environment, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency concluded 27 enforcement cases addressing air, water, hazardous waste, and solid waste pollution during the fourth quarter of 2011. The cases occurred at facilities in 27 counties throughout Minnesota. For all of 2011, the MPCA completed 159 enforcement cases.“This is really about balancing our charge to protect the environment while maintaining a level playing field for all businesses,” says MPCA Compliance and Enforcement Manager Jeff Connell. “Agency staff continues to provide support and information on how to stay in compliance for any company or local government seeking help.”
The following 27 cases were completed in the fourth quarter of 2011, with penalty fine amounts in parentheses:

• Marathon Petroleum Co., LLC, St. Paul Park: water- and air-quality violations ($700,000)
• Corn Plus, Winnebago: air-quality violations ($310,000)
• Long Prairie Packing Co., LLC, Long Prairie: water-quality violations ($52,000)
• Central Boiler, Inc., Greenbush: air-quality violations ($22,000)
• Homecrest Outdoor Living, Wadena: air-quality violations ($13,000)
• Minnesota Valley Alfalfa Producers, Priam: air-quality violations ($10,000)
• KBI, Inc., Eden Valley: water-quality violations ($8,225)
• ATEK Manufacturing, LLC, Brainerd: water-quality and hazardous waste violations ($8,125)
• Carly Winscher Farm, Royalton: feedlot violations ( $6,900)
• Boise White Paper, LLC, International Falls: water-quality violations ($5,010)
• Justin Roelofs, Mankato, solid waste violations: ($4,970)
• Wanamingo Demolition Landfill, Wanamingo: solid waste violations ($4,200)
• MAACO Auto Painting & Collision Center, St. Louis Park: air-quality violations ($4,000)
• ANI Pharmaceuticals, Baudette: water-quality violations ($4,650)
• Thomas Stonich-Strizich Road Compliance Upgrade, Side Lake: stormwater violations ($3,380)
• Hancock wastewater treatment plant, Hancock: water-quality violations ($3,334)
• Lon Little Excavating & Pumping & Drain Service, Dundas: individual septic treatment system violations ($2,707)
• City of Erskine Fire Department, Erskine: solid waste violations ($2,625)
• Brown County Sanitary Landfill, Sleepy Eye: solid waste violations ($2,075)
• Mathiowetz Enterprises, Sleepy Eye: solid waste violations ($2,075)
• City of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids: stormwater violations ($2,000)
• Kevin and Teresa Roesler, Harmony: individual septic treatment system violations ($1,000)

The penalties for the following cases are forgivable if corrective actions are completed:

• Minnesota Power-Laskin Energy Center, Hoyt Lakes: water-quality violations ($3,500)
• R-TEA Manufacturing, First State Tire Disposal, Inc., East Bethel: solid waste violations ($3,500)
• Lamberton wastewater treatment plant, Lamberton: water-quality violations ($1,375)
• Rogge Excavating, Inc., Ghent: solid waste violations ($1,320)
• Josh Olson and Todd David Olson, Northwoods Excavating Services, Inc., Bovey: stormwater and solid waste violations ($650)

The total of fines in the fourth quarter was just under $1.2 million.