Contact: Dan Olson, 218-846-8108
Detroit Lakes, Minn. — Lucken Trucks and Parts has paid a penalty to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and taken corrective actions in response to several stormwater and hazardous waste violations.
In response to a complaint, MPCA staff inspected the Winger business in early 2009 and found the company allowed polluted discharges from subsurface tiles to drain from the property into a nearby waterway. The company also lacked a required stormwater pollution prevention plan, and had not taken action to prevent polluted stormwater from running off the site.
During the 2009 inspections, the MPCA also found that the company had violated hazardous waste regulations governing the storage and disposal of hazardous solvents, contaminated rags and spent batteries. Soil contaminated with waste automotive fluids was observed at several locations on the site. The company also improperly stored and disposed of solid waste and used tires.
In addition to paying a $10,000 penalty, the company has taken actions to correct the problems discovered during the 2009 inspections.
When calculating penalties, the MPCA takes into account how seriously the violation affected the environment, whether it is a first-time or repeat violation, and how promptly the violation was reported to appropriate authorities. It also attempts to recover the calculated economic benefit gained by the company’s failure to comply with environmental laws in a timely manner.
