Local News
Ethanol plant admits to violations
WINNEBAGO — Owners of the ethanol plant in Winnebago have agreed to pay a $100,000 fine and make a $50,000 contribution to benefit Rice Lake after pleading guilty in federal court Wednesday to violating the Clean Water Act.
Corn Plus was charged Aug. 3 after an investigation by the federal Environmental Protection Agency and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency determined the company, which processes corn into ethanol fuel, had been discharging wastewater into Rice Lake. The discharges, which contained the pollutant biological oxygen, occurred from 2005 through Aug. 10, 2007, a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Authorities from the Faribault County Sheriff’s Department and the MPCA executed a search warrant at the plant Aug. 10, 2007. Several water, fecal, metal and bacteria samples were collected during the search, according to Faribault County court records. At that time, Nancy Miller of the MPCA office in Rochester said the agency had received citizen complaints about polluted water in a ditch near the plant.
The ditch, which is near the Winnebago plant and empties into Rice Lake to the east, had a visible milky and odorous discharge of wastewater several times between October 2006 and June 2007, the search warrant application said. Faribault County deputies included that evidence in their request for the search warrant, which had to be approved by a judge.
During the investigation that followed, authorities determined Corn Plus had discharged the water through a drain on the company’s property, which emptied into the ditch. The company faced a maximum penalty of five years of probation and a $200,000 fine for the misdemeanor charge.
Prior to entering the guilty plea before federal Judge Jeanne Graham, the company agreed to pay a $100,000 fine, according to a news release from John Lundquist, the Minneapolis attorney representing Corn Plus. The company also agreed to make a $50,000 contribution to an environmental project that will benefit Rice Lake and the Winnebago area.
A sentencing date has not been scheduled.
For the complete story, see the Friday, Aug. 21, print edition of The Free Press, updates online or sign onto our e-edition.
Click here to
access Free Press e-edition
- Local News
-
-
DWI patrols expand into the bars
Wednesday marked the first time the RAVE approach was applied in outstate Minnesota.
-
Flood warning for region upgraded to "moderate"
CLICK for latest Mankato weather forecast
Detailed floodwatch for New Ulm, Mankato, St. Peter, Henderson.
-
MnDOT warns of deer moving across road
Floodwaters are forcing them to higher ground
-
High-speed chase ends car driving into Wal-Mart
An apparent high-speed chase Thursday morning ended with the suspect driving through the doors at Mankato Wal-Mart.
-
Flooding shuts down area roads
Flooding on roadways is causing several road closures in area.
Motorists are asked to avoid these areas and report any other roadways covered by water by calling 911. -
Walkers to monitor Kato flood walls
Area rivers have reached flood stage and are still rising
-
'Metro' money starting to flow
The Mankato area's new status as a metropolitian statistical area is paying off.
-
Parking ramp grant secured
Mankato has received a state grant of $850,000 to build a parking ramp downtown at Hickory and Second streets, a big boost to a plan to renovate the Heco Building.
- Weird News: Our litigious society
-
Election changes set for 2010
Most voters won't be much affected by 2010 Minnesota election changes, but primary voters and absentee voters should take note.
- More Local News Headlines
-
