Three firms fined for stormwater violations at St. Cloud development

Last update: January 6, 2009 - 9:10 PM

Stormwater violations at a housing development south of St. Cloud have led to more than $50,000 in fines, state regulators said.

The violations at Emerald Ponds, a 145-acre housing development site near St. Augusta in Stearns County happened in 2005, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency said Monday.

Agreeing to the fines were developer Rolling Green Inc., of Plymouth, LaTour Construction Inc., of Maple Lake, Minn., and Larson Excavating Inc. of St. Cloud.

Government inspectors determined that the companies failed to take the proper actions, leading to "significant amounts of sediment" entering curb and gutter systems, ditches, ponds and wetlands near the construction site.

Along with paying the $52,500 civil penalty, the companies were required to correct all violations.

PAUL WALSH