The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) announced it has concluded 109 enforcement cases in the second half of 2019.
Enforcement cases with net penalty amounts of $5,000 or more
July - December 2019
Public date -- Company or individual(s) -- Violation Location -- Net Penalty
7/25/2019 -- Pike Hills Dairy LLC -- Little Falls -- $14,520
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Violation(s) summary - Feedlots: Liquid manure and manure-contaminated runoff flowed from the property to the Mississippi River. The owner did not properly report or attempt to clean up the discharge.
8/29/2019 -- National Vision Inc. -- St. Cloud -- $9,375
Violation(s) summary - Hazardous waste: Failed fully train employees on proper waste handling and emergency procedures. Failed to properly manage, label and store its hazardous waste. Failed to evaluate waste a hazardous substance. Failed to appoint a hazardous waste emergency coordinator.
12/5/2019 -- Anthony Kangas, Kangas Enterprise Inc. -- McGregor -- $5,860
Violation(s) summary - Subsurface sewage treatment systems: Improper handling and land application of septage, improper record keeping, and inadequate staff training and supervision.
Enforcement cases with net penalty amounts of less than $5,000
July - December 2019
- Floe Craft LLC, for hazardous waste violations in McGregor
- Associated Milk Producers Inc., for industrial wastewater violations in Paynesville
- CWMF Corp., for hazardous waste violations in Waite Park
- Mann Lake LTD, for hazardous waste violations in Hackensack
- Assured Septics LLC, for subsurface sewage treatment system violations in Milaca
- Waste Management of MN Inc., for solid waste violations in Bemidji
Environmental enforcement investigations often take several months, in some cases more than a year, to complete the investigation and issue final enforcement documents to regulated parties. Penalties are calculated using several factors, including harm done to the environment, the economic benefit the company gained by failing to comply with environmental rules and laws, or how responsive and cooperative a regulated party was in correcting problems.
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 bring any company, individual, or local government back into compliance.
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More details on all 109 cases completed during the second half of 2019 can be found on the MPCA’s Compliance and Enforcement web page .
