Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Contact:  Stephen Mikkelson, 218-316-3887

Brainerd, Minn. -- Ogilvie Raceway, and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) recently reached an agreement that required the company to pay $11,609 for alleged stormwater violations during construction of the auto racing track about one mile east of Ogilvie in Kanabec County.

According to MPCA staff inspection reports in 2009, the company failed to install proper silt fencing and stabilize exposed soils and ditches to prevent erosion and runoff.  It was also discovered that an on-site stormwater pond was within one mile of, and discharged to, the Groundhouse River, which is on the state’s impaired waters list for low dissolved oxygen.  These factors triggered a requirement for the company’s stormwater pollution-prevention plan to include infiltration methods rather than treating stormwater in a sediment pond.  After amending the SWPPP, the company did not use infiltration and failed to show sufficient justification for not doing so.

In addition to paying an $11,609 civil penalty, the company is also required to complete a series of corrective actions.

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 website at www.pca.state.mn.us/newscenter/enforcement.html.