MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Ethanol producer Corn Plus, LLLP, has concluded a three-year probationary period following a 2009 conviction for negligently polluting Minnesota’s Rice Lake. The case, brought by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), highlights the ongoing risk of industrial runoff and the importance of due diligence in environmental compliance.
According to court documents, Corn Plus admitted to discharging wastewater containing excessive levels of biological oxygen demand (BOD) into Rice Lake between 2005 and August 10, 2007. This discharge occurred via a drain on company property, directly impacting the lake’s water quality. BOD is a key indicator of water pollution, as it represents the amount of oxygen consumed by microorganisms in the water, potentially suffocating aquatic life.
The EPA’s investigation revealed that Corn Plus failed to exercise reasonable care in preventing the contaminated wastewater from reaching the lake. While the company did not intentionally release pollutants, the negligent oversight constituted a violation of the Clean Water Act (CWA). The case underscores that even unintentional discharges can carry significant legal and financial consequences for companies operating near sensitive ecosystems.
Legal Ramifications and Penalties
On August 4, 2009, Corn Plus was formally charged with one count of violating effluent limitation standards under the CWA, specifically 33 U.S.C. 1311(a). The company subsequently pled guilty. On October 27, 2009, Federal District Court for the District of Minnesota sentenced Corn Plus to a $100,000 federal fine and a three-year probationary period. Beyond the direct fine, the court also mandated a $50,000 community service payment to an environmental organization dedicated to the restoration and preservation of Rice Lake.
Ongoing Concerns and Industry Oversight
Environmental advocacy groups have long pointed to the ethanol production industry as a potential source of water pollution. The process requires substantial water usage and generates significant wastewater. While many ethanol plants operate within legal limits, incidents like the Corn Plus case demonstrate the need for vigilant monitoring and enforcement of environmental regulations. The EPA continues to prioritize enforcement actions against facilities that jeopardize water quality, particularly those impacting critical habitats like Rice Lake.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Corn Plus, LLLP
- Crime: Negligent discharge of pollutants into Rice Lake, violating the Clean Water Act.
- State: Minnesota
- Year: 2010 (sentence concluded)
- Statutes Violated: 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(1)(A) and 33 U.S.C. 1311(a)
- Penalties: $100,000 federal fine, 3 years probation, $50,000 community service payment.
- Pollutant: Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)
GrimyTimes will continue to follow developments in environmental crime and report on cases impacting communities across the nation.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
Related Federal Cases
- Corn Plus, Pollution, MN 2010 · Minnesota
- Corn Plus, Environmental Crime, MN 2012 · Minnesota
- Greg V. Mohr, Water Pollution, SD 2015 · Minnesota
- John Roger Lundquist, Water Pollution, MN 1994 · Minnesota
- Darling International, Water Pollution, MN 1998 · Minnesota
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