Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Contact: Stephen Mikkelson, 218-855-5001 Brainerd, Minn. -- D & D Fiberglass Bodies Inc., a manufacturer of truck parts in Perham, has agreed to pay $10,000 for alleged hazardous waste violations. The violations were discovered during Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) staff inspections in June 2006. The violations include storing hazardous waste in unsafe areas and storing more waste than is allowed by state law for a company of its size. The company also failed to obtain required hazardous waste generator and storage permits from the MPCA. In addition to paying the $10,000 civil penalty, the company has taken steps to properly store and dispose of the waste they generate, and has applied for the required permits. The MPCA provides outreach and training to companies that generate and store hazardous waste. More information about hazardous waste regulations is available on the MPCA Web site at www.pca.state.mn.us. 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 www.pca.state.mn.us/newscenter/enforcement.html.