BNSF Railway Company paid a fine of $20,000 for industrial stormwater and wastewater permit violations at its Willmar facility. A Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) investigation in September 2023 found that BNSF Railway’s Willmar rail facility failed to use correct erosion control best management practices and discharged eroded soil into a city stormwater system and the shoreline of Foot Lake.
BNSF failed to properly document monthly stormwater inspection records, map all storm sewer drains, and properly maintain wastewater ponds.
BNSF Railway Company completed the following corrective actions to return to compliance:
- recovered eroded soils from Foot Lake
- re-routed the facility’s stormwater away from the city’s stormwater system
- updated stormwater inspection documentation
- updated facility maps identifying storm sewer drains
- removed soils from wastewater ponds
The MPCA remains committed to protecting human health and the environment by enforcing rules and regulations and limiting pollution and discharges from facilities. When facilities 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.