ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) released a list on Monday of 72 environmental compliance enforcement cases it concluded in Minnesota during the first quarter of 2018.

The MPCA has issued just over $330,000 in penalties so far this year, and includes nearby companies, in Freeborn and Dodge counties.

In addition to these 72 recently completed cases, the MPCA also has 39 ongoing enforcement investigations, 18 of which were opened as new cases during the first quarter of 2018.

According to the MPCA, Am Tech Ingredients in Albert Lea was fined $5,670 for air quality violations, while Morrison Well Company, Inc. in Freeborn and David Gosch Farm in Hayfield were fined $3,600 and $2,000 respectively for industrial wastewater violations.

Environmental enforcement investigations often take several months, and in highly complex cases more than a year. Fines issued are targeted to match the environmental harm, economic advantage gained or environmental corrective activity.