In its ongoing efforts to promote environmental compliance, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency concluded 48 enforcement cases in 33 counties throughout Minnesota during the second quarter of 2017.
Penalties from all 48 cases totaled just over $450,000. Two of those cases occurred in the Brainerd lakes area.
Bill Tulenchick and Joe Varner of Pillager were fined $9,900 for feedlot violations. Wannebo Excavating Inc. of Manhattan Beach was fined $550 for subsurface septic treatment system violations.
Environmental enforcement investigations often take several months, and in highly complex cases more than a year. In rare instances, they can involve courts, they are most often negotiated settlements where the goal is compliance with environmental rules. Fines issued are targeted to match the environmental harm, economic advantage gained or environmental corrective actions.
In addition to the 48 recently completed cases, the MPCA also has 41 ongoing enforcement investigations, 17 of which were opened as new cases during the second quarter of 2017. Not all investigations lead to fines or other official action.
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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.
