Derek Vekich of Bovey filled in a wetland with more than 9,000 square feet of unpermitted fill near Trout Lake in Itasca County, according to investigators with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Investigators also found that Vekich engaged in unpermitted stormwater construction activities. The violations occurred in July 2024.
The violations included:
- filling in a wetland with unpermitted fill 200 feet from Trout Lake
- discharge of 250 square feet of sediment up to two inches thick in Trout Lake
- failing to obtain a general stormwater permit or a construction stormwater permit
- failing to install sediment controls to protect Trout Lake
- failing to develop a stormwater pollution prevention plan
- failing to have a trained site manager conduct 28 site inspections (including seven required for rain events)
These violations led to Mr. Vekich paying a fine of $20,110.
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.