Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Contact: Stephen Mikkelson, 218-855-5001 Brainerd, Minn. -- The Long Prairie Packing Company has agreed to pay $12,500 for alleged feedlot violations. The violations were discovered during Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) staff inspections in 2004 and 2005 at the company's facility in central Todd County. According to the agreement, the violations included improper stockpiling of manure at several sites within Todd County as well as incomplete record keeping. For example, some stockpiles were on land that had steeper slopes than state rules allow, were placed on the wrong kinds of soils, or located too close to road ditches that drain to area wetlands. In addition to paying the $12,500 civil penalty, the company was required to remove the manure from problem areas, update their records and submit an updated manure management plan to the MPCA. These requirements have been completed and the facility is currently in compliance with state rules. The MPCA regulates the collection, transportation, storage, processing and disposal of animal manure, and provides assistance to counties and the livestock industry. More information about feedlot regulation and assistance is available on the MPCA Web site at www.pca.state.mn.us. 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.