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The MPCA offers environmental audits to help businesses and organizations examine how well they are complying with environmental regulations, and correct any problems that are identified.
SkyWater Technology violated federal laws and Minnesota rules, operating a semiconductor plant without an appropriate air permit in Bloomington, Minnesota.
Enbridge Energy is continuing restoration work around its new Line 3 crude oil pipeline across Minnesota. The new line replaces an aging Line 3 and began operating in October 2021, after Enbridge completed the project’s construction phase.
Pretreatment by commercial facilities and other non-domestic wastewater sources removes harmful pollutants before the wastewater is discharged to a municipal sewer system. The U.S. EPA has delegated MPCA the authority to approve pretreatment programs at the local level and oversee statewide pretreatment activities.
In early 2024, Minnesota became the first U.S. state to establish a product stewardship program for boat wrap, which must provide free collection, transportation, reuse, recycling, and disposal.
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.
St. Paul Brass manufactures brass, bronze, and aluminum castings in the Frogtown neighborhood of Saint Paul, an environmental justice area.
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.
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.
Sanimax USA LLC failed to seek a required major air permit amendment and conduct air emissions modeling prior to making changes to its pollution control equipment systems in 2019 at its animal products rendering facility in South St. Paul, Minnesota.
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.
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.
Complying with the MS4 general permit
In the management of construction stormwater, MPCA recognizes Southwest Light Rail Extension project for responsible development through stormwater controls.
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.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's Emergency Response Program (ERP) oversees the cleanup of all types of spills and environmental emergencies.
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 this spring confirms that the source of the elevated lead levels has been addressed.
Implementing water quality standards come with tangible costs and benefits. Costs such as taxes to residents, regulated parties, and communities help achieve benefits such as increased property values, tourism, and protecting human health.