MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced a judgment on Monday against a Minnesota corporation that owns a Grantsburg-based sand and gravel mining facility that allegedly committed environmental violations.
Interstate Energy Partners LLC owns the Burnett County facility, which is operated by the Minnesota-based Tiller Corporation. Van Hollen alleged that between April 19, 2012, and April 22, 2012, a discharge of fine grained sediment from the facility ran into a wetland complex, a creek and downstream into the St. Croix River.
The St. Croix River is designated as an area of special natural resource interest and is part of the national wild and scenic rivers system. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources responded to a citizen complaint on April 26 and discovered the discharge. The DNR immediately shut down production at the facility.
Burnett County Circuit Court entered a judgment against the defendants for allegedly failing to maintain necessary berms and dikes and discharging outside the condition of their permit, in violation of state environmental protection laws. The defendants must pay $80,000 worth of forfeitures and statutory fees.
"Wisconsin will continue to ensure our high quality rivers and streams are protected, and operators will be required to adhere to the laws and regulations designed to prevent pollution of our precious natural resources," Van Hollen said.
Wis. AG obtains judgment against sand and gravel mining company
