The city of Hartland was fined $12,061 and the city of Hollandale was fined $12,108 for municipal wastewater violations. An investigation by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) found that both cities submitted false data to the MPCA, were missing data, and did not file discharge monitoring reports on time. The falsification of data led the MPCA to revoke the certification of the wastewater treatment operator that both cities employed.
In addition to paying the fines, the cities agreed to:
- cease falsifying data
- submit a plan to take samples in accordance with the facilities’ permits
- submit a plan to ensure that all discharge monitoring reports are submitted in a timely fashion
- ensure a certified wastewater operator is operating the facilities
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 regulated party gained by failing to comply with environmental laws in a timely manner.