Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Media Contact: Stephen Mikkelson, 218-855-5001 Technical Contact: Rebecca Walter, 651-296-3552 Toll Free: 1-800-657-3864 Brainerd, Minn. -- Gresser Companies Inc., has agreed to pay an $11,500 penalty for alleged hazardous waste violations. The violations occurred at the company's concrete masonry plant in Eagan. The violations were observed during a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) staff inspection in July 2003. They included failure to cover, label and properly store hazardous wastes including old paint, solvents and used oil. The company also neglected to properly dispose of broken fluorescent light bulbs, which contain small amounts of mercury. In addition to paying the $11,500 civil penalty, the company has corrected the problems at the facility and submitted a detailed hazardous waste management plan to the MPCA. 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 failure to comply with environmental laws in a timely manner. For a comprehensive list of enforcement actions by the MPCA, refer to the agency Web site at hhref="/newscenter/enforcement.html.