A fish kill in the Cedar River last year has resulted in a $24,730 fine for Austin Utilities from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).

The incident was caused by a chemical known as Nalco 21-S Balls, which is a cleaning agent used by treatment plants.

Austin Utilities found a barrel of the substance in February 2002 while cleaning out its downtown plant, General Manager Jerry McCarthy said. He said they called Nalco Chemical Company, of Illinois, and asked how to dispose of it. They were told to dissolve it in water and put it in the sewer, McCarthy said.

"We tried to do everything possible to make sure we disposed of this stuff properly," McCarthy said. "We were given some bad information."

Nalco could not be reached for comment Thursday morning.

Nancy Miller, from the Southwestern Minnesota office of the MPCA, said they were notified of a fish kill on March 10, 2002. Miller said it was probably a citizen's call, although records did not specify.

The MPCA discovered approximately 250 fish dead near the outfall of the waste water treatment plant.

On March 20, Austin Utilities contacted the MPCA to see if they were at all responsible for the kill.

A number of MPCA tests indicated traces of Nalco 21-S Balls in the fish. McCarthy said there is no threat to humans from the incident.

"We're talking about very, very small amounts, but evidently it was enough to damage the fish," McCarthy said.

Austin Utilities has done a number of tests since then, and no traces have been found, he said.

McCarthy said the two individuals at Nalco Chemical Company that gave them the information have since been fired. Austin Utilities will be talking further with the company about the incident.

"We will be pursuing it to recover the costs," McCarthy said.