The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has levied penalties for three area cases over the past few months.

The MPCA released its second quarter 2014, which showed the agency wrapped up 68 cases in 41 counties, including three in Mower County.

Allen & Joey Grelbrok, of Austin, were fined $2,750 for asbestos violations. Eugene Holst, of Austin, was fined $1,500 for water quality violations. Judy Marshal and Susan Kehret, c / o Patricia Woodfill, of Brownsdale, were cited $1,500 for water quality violations.

Environmental enforcement investigations often take several months, and in highly complex cases more than a year. Although, in rare instances, they can involve courts, they are most often negotiated settlements where the goal is compliance with environmental rules. Fines issued are targeted to match the environmental harm, economic advantage gained or environmental corrective actions.

In addition to these 68 recently completed cases, the MPCA also has 107 ongoing enforcement investigations, 14 of which were opened as new cases during the second quarter of 2014.  Not all investigations lead to fines or other official action.

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 achieve compliance for any company or local government that requests it.

A complete summary of environmental enforcement actions and news releases can be found on the MPCA’s News Media Center Web page.  For questions on specific enforcement cases, please contact Stephen Mikkelson, Information Officer at (218) 316-3887, or toll free at (800) 657-3864.