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Central Bi-Products emitted higher levels of hydrogen sulfide than is allowed, causing odor complaints in the community of Long Prairie and resulting in a $3 million fine. Central Bi-Products has agreed to spend a minimum of $4.4 million on a supplemental environmental project that will improve its wastewater treatment.
Green Plains Fairmont, LLC paid $14,175 for an ethanol spill that lasted four days and contaminated groundwater.
The Lake Allie wastewater treatment facility will pay more than $13,000 in fines and follow a corrective action plan for violating its wastewater permit in Buffalo Lake, Minn.
The Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative emitted higher levels of hydrogen sulfide than allowed from its Renville facility, resulting in a $1.15 million fine following an MPCA investigation.
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.
Cities fined over $12,000 apiece for municipal wastewater violations
The MPCA fined Cabinetworks Group’s Waconia facility, Wood Products, $11,520 for violations of its air permit.
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.
The MPCA fined West Fraser Forest Products $24,750 for exceeding the total amount of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) allowed by the air permit for the company’s Solway facility from January 2024 to January 2025.
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.
Wastewater treatment plant in Elk River paid a $15,000 fine for consistently discharging fecal coliform and phosphorus into nearby Tibbets Brook.
Answers to frequently asked questions about compliance and MPCA's enforcement of environmental rules in Minnesota.
BNSF Railway Company paid a fine of $20,000 for industrial stormwater and wastewater permit violations at its Willmar facility.
MPCA completed 100 enforcement cases for water quality, air quality, waste, stormwater, and wastewater violations in the first half of 2024
Farmers Grain, LLC, a grain elevator in Thief River Falls, paid $18,120 in fines for pumping contaminated water from their property into the city of Thief River Falls stormwater system.
Heartland Corn Products failed emission stack tests in November 2021 and February 2022 for volatile organic compounds and particulates at its ethanol production facility in Winthrop, Minn.
The MPCA closed 118 enforcement cases for water quality, air quality, waste, stormwater, and wastewater violations in the second half of 2023.
Smith Foundry has ceased operations at its East Phillips facility after an investigation and settlement with the U.S. EPA that the MPCA supported.
MPCA investigation shows the city violated its wastewater permit in Freeborn County from April 2021 to April 2023.
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.