Several cases located in Becker County area

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) closed 90 enforcement cases for air quality, waste, stormwater, and wastewater violations in the first half of 2021. 

Environmental enforcement investigations often take several months, in some cases more than a year, to complete the investigation and issue final enforcement documents to regulated parties. Penalties are calculated using several factors, including harm done to the environment, the economic benefit the company gained by failing to comply with environmental laws, or how responsive and cooperative a regulated party was in correcting problems.

Stenger’s Septic Pumping; Tyler M. Stenger Detroit Lakes was among the enforcement cases with net penalty amounts of $5,000 or more from January through June 2021.

The news release stated Stenger’s Septic Pumping had subsurface sewage treatment systems that failed to properly monitor and treat domestic septage as it was pumped and transported for disposal. The fine was $7,200.

Other local companies with enforcement cases with a net penalty amount of less than $5,000 included Border Construction and Eg and Co. Properties, both of Detroit Lakes and both with stormwater violations. (The actual fine amounts were not stated in the press release for those with a penalty less than $5,000.)

Imposing monetary penalties is only part of the MPCA’s enforcement process. Agency staff continue to provide assistance, support, and information on the steps and tools necessary to bring any company, individual, or local government back into compliance.