Contacts: Forrest Peterson, 320-441-6972
St.Paul, Minn. -- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and Northern Metals in Minneapolis have reached an agreement that resolves alleged violations of air quality rules. The company was given a $15,000 civil penalty and is required to complete corrective actions.
Performance tests in December 2009 showed that the company’s metal-shredding facility at 2800 Pacific St. exceeded air emissions limits for airborne particles. Total particulate matter exceeded the permitted limit by 204 percent and mercury emissions by 32 percent. The company has submitted a plan that will ensure compliance with emissions limits.
A stipulation agreement is one of the tools used 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, go to the agency Web site at www.pca.state.mn.us/newscenter/enforcement.html.
