Contact: Stephen Mikkelson, 218-316-3887
Brainerd, Minn. ― The Cass County Highway Department, Tri-City Paving of Little Falls, and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) recently reached an agreement that requires Cass County and Tri-City to pay $45,675 for alleged stormwater violations. The violations occurred at an eight-mile construction project on County State Aid Highway 1, near the city of Pine River.
According to MPCA staff inspection reports in August and September of 2010, sediment and sediment-laden stormwater was discharged into area ditches and wetlands. Problems that caused the discharges included failing to stabilize ditches within 200 feet of the discharge point, inadequate or missing sediment controls, and failing silt fencing and erosion control berms throughout the project area. These problems were identified during repeated inspections. The site was eventually brought into compliance.
In addition to paying the $45,675 civil penalty, the two parties must also submit a detailed plan for corrective actions at the site.
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, see www.pca.state.mn.us/newscenter/enforcement.html.
