Morris ethanol facility fined $14,800 for air quality violation

DENCO II LLC, an ethanol facility, located in Morris, failed a stack test for particulate matter in April 2024. The failed stack test showed that the facility exceeded its permit limit for particulate matter by more than 170%. DENCO II was fined $14,800 for this Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) permit violation. Exposure to particulate matter less than 10 micrometers in diameter can cause: aggravated asthma; increased respiratory symptoms such as irritation of the airways or difficulty breathing; and nonfatal heart attacks.  

The facility addressed the permit violation by replacing filters in the stack and by July 2024, the company returned to compliance with its permit. 

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.