A Chanhassen parts manufacturer was fined $8,920 and agreed to spend at least $279,000 to upgrade its equipment after the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and Carver County inspectors found violations of hazardous waste laws.
The state said the company, Roberts Automatic Products, Inc., was mixing degreaser and cleaner residue with used oil when it should have been treating the materials separately.
Inspectors also found violations related to storage and shipping of hazardous waste.
Roberts agreed to purchase a vacuum degreasing unit that uses hydrocarbons instead of methylene chloride to clean parts, which will decrease waste and reduce employee exposure to the chemical.