State fines Buffalo Lake beef processing firm for dumping waste into ditch

Star Tribune

Last update: January 13, 2009 - 11:12 PM

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A beef processing company in Buffalo Lake, Minn., has agreed to pay a fine for allegedly violating wastewater and hazardous waste rules, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency said Tuesday.

North Star Beef and Minnesota Beef Industries and chief financial officer William Gilger will pay a $40,000 civil penalty and complete work to correct the violations, the MPCA said.

The fine stems from an inspection in March in which investigators found unauthorized discharges of blood, water and manure into a road ditch from the plant. Inspectors also cited the companies for improper handling of old batteries and used oil and for record-keeping violations, the MPCA said.

The agreement calls for the company to submit plans to prevent unauthorized discharges, establish a sampling and compliance plan and design and implement an environmental management system.

TIM HARLOW

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