The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has fined ethanol production facility DENCO II, Inc. $24,664 for multiple unauthorized releases of wastewater or materials into the environment.
On Jan. 2, 2025, MPCA staff conducted an unannounced inspection at the DENCO II facility in Morris. Files provided following this inspection revealed that the facility had documented four unauthorized releases of wastewater or materials, including corn mash, lye, and corn oil, into the surrounding environment. The file review following the Jan. 2 inspection also found multiple violations of monitoring and reporting requirements as well as sample preservation and testing procedures.
In addition to paying the fine, DENCO II has submitted written plans detailing the steps that will be taken to prevent the release of wastewater or materials and to ensure proper sample preservation procedures. By Sept. 1, 2026, the facility will also submit a report detailing the findings and recommended actions of a stormwater system evaluation.
The MPCA is committed to protecting human health and the environment by enforcing the 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 agency has issued 8,419 enforcement actions statewide, amounting to more than $24 million in penalties. Penalty payments go into the MPCA's general fund, which 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.