Contact: Anne Perry Moore, 218-302-6605
Duluth, Minn. -- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and Pro Blast Technologies Inc. recently reached an agreement resolving the company’s alleged failure to obtain required solid waste permits or follow state air, hazardous and solid waste permit requirements. As a result, Pro Blast agreed to pay a $6,000 civil penalty, fulfill all compliance requirements and spend at least $16,000 on a Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) to reduce related dust emissions.
The company owns and operates a sandblasting and painting facility in Pengilly, Minnesota. The facility sandblasts and re-paints heavy equipment which generates air emissions and hazardous and solid wastes regulated by state permits.
MPCA staff inspected the facility in July 2009 and observed ineffective dust suppression equipment allowing sandblasting media to become airborne and be deposited off-site; improperly labeled and stored hazardous materials and waste; improperly stored solid waste, and no documentation of a required solid waste permit or a solid waste storage permit.
Pro Blast must complete all of the agreement’s requirements, including construction of a new facility with appropriate dust suppressions equipment as specified in the SEP by September 1, 2010.
Stipulation agreements 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. For a comprehensive list of enforcement actions by the MPCA, visit the agency Web site at www.pca.state.mn.us/newscenter/enforcement.html.
Minnesota law requires owners and operators of entities with the potential to generate air, hazardous and solid waste pollutants to have MPCA permits. They must also carefully monitor and maintain equipment because emissions exceeding state standards can degrade air, land and water quality. The MPCA offers outreach and training to help facilities meet their permit requirements. For more information on permits and emission standards, visit the agency’s Web site at www.pca.state.mn.us or call Kit Grayson, MPCA hazardous waste inspector, at 218-302-6627. All MPCA staff can also be reached toll-free at 800-657-3864.
