The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) fined Rasley Oil Company $25,000 for leaking equipment and failure to conduct required tests and submit necessary reports at its gas station in McGregor.
On Oct. 3, 2024, an MPCA inspection of the facility found that facility staff failed to conduct routine testing on multiple pieces of equipment since 2021. Additionally, MPCA staff found that the facility had not fixed broken or leaking equipment, including several hoses and nozzles.
In addition to paying the fine, Rasley Oil has done the necessary equipment testing, submitted required reports, and fixed all broken or leaking equipment.
The MPCA is 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. Since 2019, the MPCA has issued 8,580 enforcement actions amounting to nearly $25 million in penalties. Penalty payments go into the state’s environmental fund, which is appropriated by the Legislature and enables the MPCA to protect communities and the environment from harmful pollution.
When calculating penalties, the MPCA considers a number of factors including the seriousness of the violation, the potential for harm to human health or the environment, history of noncompliance, and the economic benefit the company gained by failing to comply with environmental laws.