Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Media Contact: Barbara Skoglund, 651-296-5965 Technical Contact: Joe Henderson, 651-297-8496 Saint Paul, Minn. -- Metalmasters and J.R.S. Enterprises have agreed to investigate and cleanup contamination, and pay a $14,000 civil penalty to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) for alleged hazardous waste violations at their former facility in Plymouth. Metalmasters owned and operated a machining and metal parts manufacturing business from 1968 to 2002 located on Highway 169. J.R.S. Enterprises operated an aircraft engine repair business at the same location from 1976 to 2003. The two businesses shared a hazardous waste license and generated wastes such as trichlorethylene, petroleum naphtha, methylene chloride, chlorinated hydrocarbons and used oil. After the two businesses stopped operating, MPCA and Hennepin County staff discovered hazardous waste violations. During the 1970s and 1980s, hazardous waste solvents were improperly managed and dumped into a soil-bottom well located on site. Disposing of these chemicals in the well contaminated some underlying soil and ground water. In addition, after ceasing operations, the companies also left hazardous materials in the unsecured facility. Metalmasters is investigating the scope of soil and ground water contamination at the site and will implement a plan to address the contamination risks. The plan includes renovations to the building, which will allow the sale and reuse of the property. Since both companies have stopped operating, a portion of the revenue from the sale of the property will be placed in trust to pay investigation and clean up costs, and meet other requirements of the agreement with the MPCA. The MPCA Voluntary Investigation and Cleanup Program is providing oversight of the investigation and cleanup. Stipulation Agreements such as this are one of the tools used by the MPCA to achieve compliance with environmental laws. 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. The MPCA Voluntary Investigation and Cleanup Program provides technical assistance and administrative or legal assurances for individuals or businesses wanting to investigate or cleanup contaminated property. Property buyers, sellers, developers, bankers, development agencies, local government and other voluntary parties work with MPCA staff to bring contaminated land back into productive use. For a comprehensive list of enforcement actions by the MPCA, go to the agency Web site at/newscenter/enforcement.html.