According to a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) enforcement investigation, Alliance Building Corporation failed to install measures required to stabilize soil, prevent erosion, and contain sediment at the Cardinal Pines II construction project near Staples, Minn. These construction stormwater violations can lead to excess sediment and other pollutants leaving a construction site and negatively impacting area wetlands, streams, or rivers.
In addition to paying an $11,000 civil penalty to the MPCA, Alliance Building Corporation completed a series of corrective actions, including:
- Stabilized exposed areas of soil within the construction zone.
- Installed strategies to minimize erosion and sediment runoff, including construction vehicles tracking soil from the site.
- Conducted site inspections and kept required records.
The MPCA has cited the company, based in Sauk Rapids, Minn., for similar violations at various locations five other times since 2014.
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 takes into account 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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