December 27, 2023
By:
Walter G. Wright
Category:
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law
Download PDF
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (“MPCA”) issued a December 21st news release indicating it had entered into a settlement with Cold Spring Brewing Company (“CSBC”) addressing alleged violations related to the release of industrial wastewater and stormwater.
CSBC operates a brewery in Cold Spring, Minnesota.
The MPCA news release states that CSBC allowed an estimated 2,000 gallons of industrial wastewater and stormwater to enter Brewery Creek. The company is also alleged to have failed to notify state officials or recover the release.
Violations identified by MPCA include:
- Failing to collect and submit stormwater monitoring data.
- Failing to maintain a required three feet of freeboard (or available space) at the top of its wastewater ponds. Freeboard is important to protect against unexpected heavy rain or spring melting that could otherwise cause a pond to overflow.
- Failing to conduct industrial stormwater inspections on its property to manage runoff.
A civil penalty of $16,721 is assessed. Further, CSBC has already completed a series of corrective actions described as including:
- Submitting plans detailing how wastewater ponds will be measured to maintain required freeboard.
- Conducting monthly stormwater inspections, submitting data and annual reports on time.
- Maintaining the facility to eliminate the chances of wastewater combining with stormwater.
- Collecting required stormwater samples during and after runoff events (heavy rain or snowmelt).
- Notifying the Minnesota duty officer and immediately recovering any future unauthorized releases.
A copy of the news release can be downloaded here.
The Between the Lines blog is made available by Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C. and the law firm publisher. The blog site is for educational purposes only, as well as to give general information and a general understanding of the law. This blog is not intended to provide specific legal advice. Use of this blog site does not create an attorney client relationship between you and Mitchell Williams or the blog site publisher. The Between the Lines blog site should not be used as a substitute for legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state.