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Environmental rules and regulations are essential tools used to protect Minnesota’s environment, setting standards for environmental quality and limits on pollutants that can be discharged from facilities. The MPCA helps protect our environment by writing and enforcing these rules and regulations.
As part of the PFAS pollution prevention law called Amara’s Law, manufacturers are required to report intentionally added PFAS in products sold in Minnesota and pay a fee. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has extended the reporting due date to Sept. 15, 2026.
Image The goal of the MPCA's regulatory programs covering hazardous substances and solid waste is to prevent contamination of land, water, and air by…
From January through March 2025, MPCA air monitoring data showed elevated lead levels that exceeded national ambient air quality standards near the facility. An MPCA inspection of Gopher Resource in spring 2025 confirmed that the source of the elevated lead levels was addressed.
Permitted waste facilities, waste utilization projects, and waste haulers in Minnesota must submit regular reports to the MPCA.
Guidance for small businesses on reporting air emissions.
Minnesota has enacted laws to end avoidable uses of PFAS in Minnesota by 2032.
A transport truck released fugitive lime dust that drifted and deposited on area school playground equipment, vehicles, and vegetation near its paper production facility in International Falls, Minn., in October 2023.
The MPCA provides additional guidance on air permitting and regulation requirements: New source review – Obtain a permit before beginning construction on new major-emitting industrial facilities…
Permits for wastewater treatment require monthly, quarterly, or annual reporting of discharge monitoring results
Answers to frequently asked questions about compliance and MPCA's enforcement of environmental rules in Minnesota.
The fines stem from a release of sediment-laden water into a county ditch, and subsequent failures to notify, repair, and report on the incident.
The MPCA fined Zippel Bay Resort $37,800 for a number of violations stemming from the operation of an unregistered gas tank that leaked gasoline into Lake of the Woods.
Failed to properly operate its wastewater treatment facility for the River Park housing development in Oronoco, Minnesota, from Aug.-Dec 2023 before connecting to the newly constructed Oronoco wastewater treatment plant.
Industrial Finishing Inc. violated several water quality permit conditions relating to required sampling, training, reporting and inspections at its industrial equipment coating and finishing facility in Deer Creek, Minn.
East Side Jersey Dairy Inc., doing business as Prairie Farms Dairy Inc., had several liquid sugar spills they failed to report to the Minnesota Duty Officer in 2022 and 2023. The spills created a potential for harm to the environment and aquatic life had they reached wetlands near the company’s facility in Woodbury, Minnesota.
MPCA reports to the state Legislature.
From 2023-2025, Northshore Mining released recycled water to the ground seven times and water relating to mining processes four times. Its largest unpermitted release was nearly 400,000 gallons of recycled water. Northshore Mining has documented equipment failure as the reason for the 11 releases.
Central Specialties Inc., based in Alexandria, violated several air permit conditions between 2021 and 2023 for its mobile hot-mix asphalt facility stationed at various locations around the state. Violations included failing to properly maintain pollution control equipment and inadequate recordkeeping and reporting.
Agropur Inc., doing business as Le Sueur Cheese Company, land applied too much industrial byproduct, resulting in rates of nitrogen and phosphorus that exceeded the allowed limits by more than 10 percent. The violations occurred in 2022, near its cheese production facility in Le Sueur, Minnesota.