St. Cloud Business Fined For Hazardous Waste Storage Violations

(KNSI) – A St. Cloud cabinetmaker has been fined nearly $13,000 for hazardous waste violations.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency enforcement division says Alpine Cabinetry LLC failed in three different ways when disposing of paint. It did not contain the chemicals to the collection area, allowing some to spill on the floor or splatter onto a nearby wall.

The facility then improperly labeled the barrels of stains and oils, meaning they could have been pulled open by workers trying to see what was inside. The barrels were sitting on porous wood pallets or bare dirt, exposed to the elements. The MPCA says that left them vulnerable to tipping over or rupturing as heat built up inside the tent. Any leaks or spills would easily seep into the ground.

The agency fined Alpine Cabinetry $12,933 for the violations. It says it takes into account how serious the errors are when calculating a penalty, both in terms of the impact on the environment they caused and the potential damage that could have occurred.

Alpine is doing every corrective action asked of it. The business was required to provide hazardous waste training to employees and inspect the process weekly. Management must outline a plan for preventing spills and appropriate storage. It is also forced to apply for an industrial stormwater permit.

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