Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Contact: Nancy Miller, 507-280-3590 Rochester, Minn. -- Flueger Construction Company of Red Wing, a corporation that primarily performs excavation and grading work, has paid more that $12,700 for alleged solid waste violations. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) staff documented solid waste violations at a quarry site owned by Edward Flueger and operated by Barney Flueger, doing business as Flueger Construction Company. Although the site is not permitted for disposal of solid waste, a waste pile measuring 160 feet long by 50 feet wide by 50 feet deep was discovered during an inspection. The pile consisted of municipal solid waste and demolition debris. In addition to paying the civil penalty, the company has also completed two Supplemental Environmental Projects totaling approximately $6,200, and agreed to remove all solid waste from the quarry. The SEPs involved assisting the Red Wing Environmental Learning Center with transportation of building materials and performing a dredging project for the Red Wing Wildlife League. Removal of solid waste at the facility will be completed according to a plan submitted by Flueger. Removal is expected to continue for approximately 60 months. 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 violation was reported to appropriate authorities. 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.