A Benson, Minn., company that burns wood and turkey waste to produce electricity has been fined $14,000 by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for violating its air permit.

According to an agreement reached between the company and the agency, Fibrominn Inc. burned treated wood, including plywood and oriented strand board, which are treated with resins that can produce air contaminants.

Between March 2008 and November 2011, the facility burned at least 22,428 tons of treated wood -- less than 1 percent of the total fuel it burned during that time. The facility has stopped accepting treated wood and agreed to pay a $14,000 penalty.

It is the second time Fibrominn has been fined for air quality violations. In 2009 it agreed to pay $65,000 in fines for failing to comply with state air quality rules and the emission levels outlined in its permit. At that time, violations included emissions of excess nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide, plus violations of reporting requirements. The company agreed to resolve the problems.

Josephine Marcotty