The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) fined Crosslake Construction Demolition Debris Facility, Inc., a construction and demolition debris landfill in Crosslake, $20,000 for violations of the company’s solid waste permit and Minnesota Rule.
During four inspections between 2020 and 2022, MPCA staff observed several unacceptable materials present at the facility, including furniture, electronics, and cleaning solvents. In addition, staff found that the facility did not have a suitable waste screening area and that a large amount of solid waste material was exposed and lacking cover for over a year.
In addition to paying the fine, Crosslake Construction has agreed to remove all prohibited materials from the facility, establish a suitable waste screening area, and restore necessary cover.
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 8,695 enforcement actions amounting to more than $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.