Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Media Contact: Michael Rafferty, (651) 297-8294 Technical Contact: Jason Moran, (651) 297-8660 St. Paul, Minn. - Lunda Construction Company has agreed to pay a $15,200 penalty for the improper management and disposal of waste paint chips from the Blakely Bridge demolition project on Scott County Rd. 1. Lunda Construction is located at 620 Gebhardt Rd. in Black River Falls, Wis. Alleged violations for improper management and disposal included failure to prevent discharge of waste lead-paint chips, failure to properly notify the MPCA of demolition activities, and depositing waste including leaded paint, creosote, timber, and various debris on the ice and banks of the Minnesota River. After discovery of the violation, Lunda removed the waste from the banks of the river. The company is developing a plan to prevent discharges for any future demolition projects. Levying penalties and fines is one of the MPCA's many tools used to encourage 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. 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