Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Contact: Nancy Miller, 507-280-3590 Rochester, Minn. -- Turtle Creek Estates Inc, a residential property development company in Austin and Niles-Wiese Construction Inc. in Medford will pay $32,000 for alleged stormwater permit violations. In addition, the companies will make changes to operating practices so that similar problems do not occur in the future. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) staff documented violations of erosion and sediment control requirements during multiple inspections of The Meadows Subdivision in Austin. Further investigation revealed improper inspection, maintenance and drainage practices, and incomplete stormwater pollution prevention plans. In addition to paying the $32,000 civil penalty, the companies will take steps needed to bring The Meadows Subdivision into compliance with stormwater management regulations. Among other things, the companies will revise the stormwater pollution prevention plan for the subdivision and install and provide necessary maintenance of erosion and sediment controls at the site. Sediment and other pollutants associated with stormwater can seriously degrade the quality of streams, lakes and rivers. The MPCA offers training and other educational materials to developers, contractors and local units of government so that they understand and can abide by stormwater regulations. The settlement, known as a stipulation agreement, is one of the tools used to achieve compliance with environmental laws. When calculating penalties, the MPCA takes into account how seriously the violation affected the environment, whether it was a first time or repeat violation and how promptly the violations were addressed. The agency 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, visit the agency Web site at www.pca.state.mn.us/newscenter/enforcement.html.