According to a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) enforcement investigation, Alliance Building Corporation failed to properly stabilize soils and control sediment during construction of Birch Spring Apartment Homes in Cold Spring, Minn.
MPCA staff inspections in April 2023 confirmed the construction site had missing and nonfunctioning sediment controls, exposed soils and missing redundant sediment controls. Redundant sediment controls (usually double silt fencing) are required when soils are disturbed within 50 feet of a waterway — in this case, a nearby wetland.
In addition to paying the $10,318 civil penalty, Alliance Building completed a series of corrective actions to achieve and maintain compliance with stormwater regulations.
MPCA rules and regulations are designed to protect human health and the environment by limiting pollution emissions and discharges from facilities. When companies do not fully comply with regulatory requirements, the resulting pollution can be harmful to people and the environment.
When calculating penalties, the MPCA considers how seriously the violations affected or could have affected the environment, and whether they were first-time or repeat violations. The agency also attempts to recover the economic benefit the company gained by failing to comply with environmental laws in a timely manner.
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