MPCA fines ACS plants in Crookston and East Grand Forks

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency  enforcement investigation has issued fines against American Crystal Sugar over industrial wastewater regulations last year at its Crookston and East Grand Forks facilities.  The MPCA says the violations impacted the Red Lake River and Red River of the North.

MPCA staff inspections confirmed the following violations discovered at each facility:

Crookston

• Wastewater discharges to the Red Lake River exceeded permitted effluent limits for fecal coliform, pH and total suspended solids on 12 occasions between April and September 2022.
• The facility released wastewater without permission on four occasions between January 2021 and May 2022. The largest release included 70,000 gallons, which was contained within the facility’s property boundary. Another significant wastewater release discharged to a public ditch adjacent to the facility during a spring rain event.

East Grand Forks

• Between July and December 2022, the facility exceeded permitted effluent limits of carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (CBOD) at its discharge to the Red River of the North on six occasions. Two incidents included discharges more than twice the permitted limit.
• Other violations included failure to collect and analyze wastewater samples as frequently as required, failure to adequately maintain freeboard levels within wastewater ponds, discharging below minimal river flow levels, and failing to report all wastewater sampling data.

The Crookston plant was fined $14,150.  The EGF facility was fined 11,685.

In addition to paying the civil penalties, American Crystal Sugar has completed corrective actions to resolve the violations and maintain compliance with its permits.