The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) fined Novae LLC, a trailer manufacturer, $11,700 for hazardous waste violations at the company’s facility in Avon.
During a routine inspection on March 31, 2026, MPCA staff observed that the facility had accumulated hazardous paint-related waste beyond the legal limit of 3,000 kilograms. Additionally, several barrels of hazardous waste were stored improperly labeled or partially open and 14 employees at the facility had not been thoroughly trained on proper waste handling procedures. MPCA staff also found that the facility had failed to document inspections performed either by facility staff or by local emergency authorities.
In addition to paying the fine, Novae LLC has agreed to improve hazardous waste training for employees, to ensure that the amount of accumulated hazardous waste does not exceed the legal limit, and to properly store and label waste at the facility.
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.