Vonco V Duluth’s waste violations will lead to beautification projects

For release: Sept. 23, 2013

Contact: Anne Perry Moore, 218-302-6605 

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Vonco V Duluth’s waste violations will lead to beautification projects

Duluth, Minn. – A number of blighted properties across Duluth may be getting a makeover, thanks to demolition and site-restoration services required by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) as part of a related enforcement action.

Vonco V Duluth LLC owns and operates the 74.5-acre Vonco V Duluth Industrial Landfill and Transfer Station in Gary-New Duluth, Minn. Approximately 10 acres of the facility are permitted to accept construction and demolition debris.

In March 2012, Vonco’s consultants notified the MPCA that unpermitted wastes had been discovered in boring samples taken at the landfill. Subsequent agency inspections discovered additional permit violations, including exposed asbestos, accepting unacceptable waste, and a failure to conduct and report accurate facility inspections. The transfer station and landfill were temporarily closed in May and re-opened after corrective actions were taken.

In August 2012, the agency learned that 6.25 tons of Vonco’s mixed municipal solid waste (household garbage) had been dumped at a private residence in Wrenshall, Minn. Vonco immediately retrieved the waste and transported it to an appropriately permitted facility.

Vonco has agreed to pay a $60,000 civil penalty to resolve the violations and conduct the following compliance activities: submit an application to modify its permit, install additional groundwater monitoring and landfill cover systems, communicate with its customers about wastes it is permitted to accept, and make necessary permit amendments to reflect current property and facility ownership. Three of the required actions have already been completed.

In addition, Vonco will complete a $240,000 Supplemental Environmental Project to remove hazardous materials, demolish buildings, dispose of building materials, and conduct site-restoration activities at what could amount to about 20 blighted properties in Duluth.

When calculating penalties, the MPCA takes into account how seriously the violations affected the environment, whether they were first-time or repeat violations, and how promptly the violations were reported to authorities. The agency also attempts to recover the calculated economic benefit gained by failure to comply with environmental laws in a timely manner. For a comprehensive list of enforcement actions, refer to the MPCA’s Quarterly Summary of Enforcement Actions webpage (http://www.pca.state.mn.us/pyri3c4).

Broadcast version:

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has penalized Vonco Five Duluth for waste management and disposal violations at its landfill in Gary-New Duluth.

Reports from its consultants and M-P-C-A inspections revealed several permit violations related to construction and demolition waste management, receiving unacceptable wastes, and improper waste disposal.

Vonco will pay a sixty-thousand-dollar penalty and must complete seven required corrective actions.

The company will also complete a two-hundred-forty-thousand-dollar Supplemental Environmental Project to demolish blighted properties in Duluth and conduct related site-restoration work.

For more information about solid waste permits and how they help protect Minnesota’s environment, visit the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency website.

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