Every Minnesotan expects healthy air, clean water, and sustainable lands. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is responsible for ensuring more than 84,000 permitted facilities, and other regulated communities in the state comply with rules and regulations designed to protect the environment and human health.
Whether it is a local waste water treatment plant or a manufacturing facility, the MPCA inspects permitted facilities, investigates public complaints, and reviews required reports and files to ensure standards are being met.
Providing assistance
The MPCA provides technical assistance and training to help permitted facilities and regulated communities meet their requirements. The agency works cooperatively with any permitted facility to prevent pollution and avoid future permit violations.
Holding violators accountable
When environmental rules and regulations are violated, the resulting pollution can be harmful to people and the environment. Enforcement actions may include warnings, field citations, administrative penalty orders (APOs), stipulation agreements (STIPs), and consent decrees.
The MPCA’s enforcement actions are necessary to hold the regulated community accountable and achieve compliance with regulations. Foremost, the MPCA wants to help avoid future permit violations.
Enforcing with transparency
The MPCA expects regulated parties to remain in compliance with permit and regulatory requirements that directly protect human health and the environment. To preserve the public’s trust in the enforcement process, the MPCA provides transparency on enforcement actions taken within agency program areas.
Enforcement reports and announcements
The MPCA releases mid-year and end-of-year enforcement reports that summarize closed violation cases.
2021 enforcement action summaries (gp2-2021)- 2020 enforcement action summaries (gp2-2020)
- 2019 Enforcement Action Summaries (gp2-2019)
News releases
In addition to summary reports, the MPCA routinely announces specific enforcement actions.
- Floor drains were discharging used motor oil, auto fluids directly to the ground and the company failed to clean up the contamination (05/13/2022)
- Homeowners association’s wastewater treatment plant in Elk River pays civil penalty for discharges of pollutants into an impaired water body. (04/25/2022)
- Fairview Township and Gladen Construction, Inc., failed to adequately prevent erosion and sediment runoff along a four-mile stretch during construction of the Fairview portion of the Gull Lake Trail project during fall 2021. (03/29/2022)
- Tire processor required to recover tire shreds that washed from its Savage facility into Eagle Creek, a designated trout stream. (03/11/2022)
- Green Plains Otter Tail, LLC, violated its combined wastewater and stormwater permit numerous times over the last three years at its ethanol production facility near Fergus Falls, Minn. (03/04/2022)
Enforcement concern or complaint?
Call the MPCA if you have concerns about local air pollution/quality, water runoff, or hazardous waste: 651-296-6300
Or online: Resident Complaint form.
FAQs
Answers to frequently asked questions about compliance and enforcement of environmental rules in Minnesota.