Success Stories
1998 MPCA-Koch Settlement Funds Environmental Improvements
In 1998, the MPCA reached its largest enforcement settlement — $6.9 million— when it completed an enforcement agreement with Koch Petroleum, now Flint Hills Resources, in Rosemount. Since then, the refinery has:
- Reduced its regulated-pollutant “footprint” by more than 50 percent
- Become one of the cleanest refineries in the country, based on amount of pollutants emitted per barrels of crude oil processed
- Been an active member in the Minnesota Environmental Initiative “Project Green Fleet” and worked in conjunction with the Science Museum and Minnesota Zoo on outreach projects for youth across the state.
One of the projects funded includes this butterfly garden at Cedar Park Elementary School in Apple Valley.
Included in the settlement was the establishment of a $1.1 million environmental trust fund. Representatives to the trust included the MPCA, Koch, Dakota County, the cities of Rosemount, Eagan, Inver Grove Heights and Hastings, and five citizens-at-large from Dakota County. This group selected 13 environmentally beneficial projects totaling $1,020,000.
The settlement also gave $100,000 to a Community Advisory Committee, to which accruing interest added more. The CAC awarded 20 additional projects to local schools, communities and nonprofit groups totaling more than $300,000. These projects included interpretive trails and outdoor learning areas for students in school districts around the refinery. The CAC awarded the last of its funds in December 2010.
A list of the projects is available by contacting Scott Parr at the MPCA, 651-757-2638 or scott.parr@state.mn.us.
