MPCA completes 65 enforcement cases in second quarter of 2013

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency sent this bulletin at 07/25/2013 07:55 AM CDT

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For release: July 25, 2013

Contact: Stephen Mikkelson, 218-316-3887 or 800-657-3864

Note to editors, news directors: The cases listed below are from these counties: Anoka, Beltrami, Benton, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Cass, Chippewa, Cook, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Lyon, Martin, Meeker, Morrison, Mower, Nicollet, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Redwood, Rice, Rock, Roseau, St. Louis, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Stearns, Steele, Wabasha, Washington, Yellow Medicine.

MPCA completes 65 enforcement cases in second quarter of 2013

St. Paul, Minn. -- This is the body of the news release

In its ongoing efforts to promote environmental compliance, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) concluded 65 enforcement cases in 42 counties throughout Minnesota during the second quarter of 2013.

Penalties for all 65 cases totaled just under $240,000. Nearly 30 percent of these cases, with penalties totaling just over $65,000, were for stormwater runoff violations. Improper stormwater management can increase soil erosion and cause sediment and other pollutants to wash into lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands. This leads to decreased water quality and can harm fish and other aquatic life.

Imposing monetary penalties is only part of the MPCA’s enforcement process. Agency staff provide assistance, support and information on the steps and tools necessary to achieve compliance for any company or local government that requests it.

Here’s a brief summary of all 65 enforcement cases completed during the second quarter of 2013:

  • City of Fergus Falls, for solid and hazardous waste violations - $26,000
  • Involta LLC and Watters & Sons Excavating LLC, Duluth, for stormwater violations - $21,600
  • David & Charlie Wiethoff, Gibbon, for solid waste and air quality violations - $10,000
  • Granite Falls Redi-Mix, Granite Falls, for stormwater violations - $10,000
  • Scott Lewandowski, Pierz, for solid waste violations - $10,000
  • Sappi Cloquet LLC, Cloquet, for air quality violations - $9,500
  • Excelsior Wastewater Treatment Plant, Excelsior, for water quality violations - $8,479
  • St. Cloud Medical Group PA, St. Cloud, for hazardous waste violations - $8,346
  • RMS Automotive, Maple Grove, for stormwater violations - $8,100
  • Hawkins Inc., Minneapolis, for emergency response violations - $7,800
  • Brendt Diderrich, Wanamingo, for air quality and solid and hazardous waste violations - $7,500
  • Hoaglund Properties LLC, Dodge Center, for air quality and solid and hazardous waste violations - $7,500
  • Douglas McGill, McGill Road Construction, Finlayson, for stormwater violations - $5,000
  • Elgin Milk Service Inc., Elgin, for emergency response violations - $5,000
  • I-90 Recycling LLC, Mike Peterson, Albert Lea, for solid waste violations - $5,000
  • Conrad Fafard Inc., Floodwood, for water quality violations - $4,950
  • Walk on Wood Inc., Mazeppa, for solid waste violations - $4,700
  • Southwest Coaches Inc., dba Southwest Tour & Travel, Jackson, for solid waste violations - $4,677
  • Linfor Inc., Plymouth, for hazardous waste violations - $4,525
  • City of Hardwick, for solid waste and air quality violations - $4,425
  • East Central Solid Waste Commission-Cambridge Transfer Station, Cambridge, for stormwater violations - $3,900
  • Waupaca Northwoods LLC, Meadowlands, for water quality violations - $3,570
  • RIE Coatings Inc., Eden Valley, for hazardous waste violations - $2,930
  • Maple Brook Utility & Street Improvement, Maple Grove, for stormwater violations - $2,725
  • Y Waste Removal Inc., Austin, for solid waste violations - $2,600
  • Great River Energy-Energy Recovery Project, Elk River, for air quality violations - $2,500
  • Aaron Leibel, Finlayson, for stormwater violations - $2,400
  • Ben Bernatsky, Brainerd, for solid waste violations - $2,300
  • Professional Plating Inc., Anoka, for hazardous waste violations - $2,300
  • Brey Tiling & Excavation, Wabasso, for solid waste and air quality violations - $2,175
  • Gary Tholen, Wabasso, for solid waste and air quality violations - $2,175
  • Peter Riester, Wabasha, for solid waste violations - $2,000
  • Jon’s Auto Service, Greenbush, for stormwater violations - $1,725
  • Cascade Township, near Rochester (Olmsted County), for stormwater violations - $1,563
  • Bemidji Iron & Recycling Inc., Bemidji, for stormwater violations - $1,550
  • Enebak Construction Co., Maple Grove, for stormwater violations - $1,540
  • Estate Development Corp., Maple Grove, for stormwater violations - $1,540
  • Mike Neisen, MJ Neisen Contracting LLC, Arlington, for solid waste violations - $1,500
  • Waldo’s Pizza, St. Cloud, for asbestos violations - $1,500
  • Domino’s Pizza LLC, Eagan, for water quality violations - $1,275
  • Hancor Inc., Fairmont, for water quality violations - $1,275
  • Ostrom’s Auto Parts, Grasston, for water quality violations - $1,275
  • Southwest Minnesota Regional Airport-Ryan Field, Marshall, for stormwater violations - $1,275
  • Thief River Falls Regional Airport, Thief River Falls, for stormwater violationis - $1,275
  • Tower Municipal Airport, Tower, for stormwater violations - $1,275
  • Gopher Resource LLC, Eagan, for air quality violations - $1,250
  • North Pine Aggregate Inc., Ham Lake, for water quality violations - $1,250
  • O’Connell Excavating & Plumbing Inc., Spring Valley, for individual septic treatment system violations - $1,100
  • Cook County Highway Department, Grand Marais, for stormwater violations - $1,040
  • Engineered Polymers Corp., Mora, for hazardous waste violations - $1,000
  • Gander Mountain Co., Woodbury, for hazardous waste violations - $1,000
  • Kevin & Cheryl Wolpern, Belle Plaine, for solid waste violations - $1,000
  • Mike Kirchoff, Duluth, for solid waste violations - $1,000
  • Multek Flexible Circuits Inc., Northfield, for hazardous waste violations - $1,000
  • Tri-County Livestock Exchange Inc., Motley, for solid waste violations - $1,000
  • AEMSCO Inc., dba Willmar Farm Center, Willmar, for hazardous waste violations - $750
  • Blue Earth Environmental Co., Mankato, for asbestos violations - $750
  • Mabel Sportsmen’s Club, Mabel, for solid waste violations - $675
  • Loken Excavating & Drainage Inc., Owatonna, for individual septic treatment system violations - $660
  • Holtan Iron, Thief River Falls, for stormwater violations - $650
  • Schulz Plumbing, Heating and Drain Cleaning Inc., New Ulm, for individual septic treatment system violations - $631
  • American Septic Pumping of Spring Valley, Spring Valley, for individual septic treatment system violations - $550
  • Green Feedlots LLP, Granada, for feedlot violations - $500
  • East Central Solid Waste Commission-Hinckley Transfer Station, Hinckley, for stormwater violations - $400
  • City of Brainerd, for solid waste violations - $250

A complete summary of environmental enforcement actions and news releases can be found on the MPCA News Media Center webpage (http://www.pca.state.mn.us/oxpg3b8). If you have questions about specific enforcement cases, please call Information Officer Stephen Mikkelson at 218-316-3887 or toll free at 800-657-3864.

Broadcast version:

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency completed 65 enforcement cases in 42 Minnesota counties during the second quarter of 2013. The penalties in these cases totaled just under 240-thousand dollars.

A complete list of all enforcement actions can be found on the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency website at www.pca.state.mn.us.

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The mission of the MPCA is to protect and improve our environment and enhance human health.

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