Badger Foundry Co., a gray iron foundry in Winona, Minn., paid $70,000 for alleged violations of the facility's air emissions permit. In addition, the company has made several changes in its operation to ensure future compliance with environmental regulations.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency staff documented violations of the facility's air emissions permit including the terms and conditions of a compliance schedule developed in 2002. Specifically, the company failed to install and have in operation a fabric filter used to control emissions from the plant. In addition, the facility failed to complete several actions outlined in the compliance schedule.
In addition to paying the $70,000 civil penalty, Badger Foundry has taken all steps needed to bring the facility back into compliance with its existing air emissions permit. The company has completed the installation and started using the required fabric filter. In addition, the emissions from designated areas throughout the plant have been collected and routed to the appropriate pollution control equipment. The company has submitted appropriate semiannual and bimonthly progress reports and will complete stack performance testing by March 2008.