(KNSI) — The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has fined two local companies for stormwater and hazardous waste violations.
Cold Spring Brewing Company paid $15,939 in fines for stormwater violations at three of its facilities. An MPCA investigation in May 2024 found the brewery failed to reduce or eliminate contaminated stormwater runoff at its main Cold Spring facility and failed to implement a facility inspection plan. At its St. Cloud location, the brewery failed to apply for an industrial stormwater permit.
The company has agreed to update stormwater pollution prevention plans, submit a spill response procedure for each site, evaluate facility operations and maintenance and spill response programs to reduce or eliminate the risk of stormwater mixing with contaminated wastewater, and apply for an industrial stormwater permit.
In 2023, Cold Spring Brewing was hit with a $16,721 civil penalty after an environmental investigation found the company allowed an estimated 2,000 gallons of industrial wastewater and stormwater to run into nearby Brewery Creek and failed to notify state officials or clean up the spill. Other violations included failure to collect and submit stormwater monitoring data and maintain a required three feet of available space at the top of its wastewater ponds. Agency officials say that space is important to protect against unexpected heavy rain or spring melting that could otherwise cause a pond to overflow.
Bus assembly plant New Flyer of America in Saint Cloud, paid $12,112.50 for hazardous waste violations. An MPCA inspection in August 2024 found the company failed to promptly clean up spilled zinc primer, which is a hazardous waste. The company also improperly disposed of cardboard contaminated with the primer and failed to properly close and clearly label containers of hazardous waste.
In addition to paying the penalty, the company agreed to properly dispose of hazardous waste, submit photographs to the MPCA showing all spills of hazardous waste were recovered, properly close and label hazardous waste containers, and submit a hazardous waste management plan to the MPCA.
When calculating penalties, the agency considers how seriously violations affected or could have affected the environment and whether they were first-time or repeat violations. The agency also attempts to recover the economic benefit companies gained by failing to comply with environmental laws in a timely manner.
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