Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Contact: Sam Brungardt, (651) 282-6410 Saint Paul, Minn. -- Tuohy Furniture Corp., a manufacturer of office furniture in Chatfield, Minn., has paid a civil penalty of $21,000 to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) for alleged air-quality violations. Among the violations cited by the MPCA were that the company installed and operated two paint booths as well as woodworking equipment without first obtaining the required amendments to its air-emissions permit. In addition, the MPCA said Tuohy, having provided misleading information, had not acted in good faith in its dealings with the agency. 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. 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, go to the agency's Web site at/newscenter/enforcement.html. The MPCA provides outreach and training to help companies meet their environmental requirements. Learn more about air quality regulations and upcoming training opportunities by visiting the MPCA Web site at http://www.pca.state.mn.us.