Long Prairie Rendering Facility Fined $3 Million for Air Quality Violations

Central Bi-Products emitted higher levels of hydrogen sulfide than is allowed, causing odor complaints in the community of Long Prairie and resulting in a $3 million fine following an investigation by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).

The Todd County Community Health & Human Services Department will receive $1.2 million of the $3 million fine.

Specifically, the MPCA investigation found that Central Bi-Products violated a hydrogen sulfide limit of .03 parts per million 485 times when the regulation only allowed it to go over that limit twice in five consecutive days.

Central Bi-Products also violated a hydrogen sulfide limit of .05 parts per million 427 times when it was not to go over that limit more than twice a year.

The MPCA investigation found that Central Bi-Products failed to properly operate and maintain its wastewater pretreatment systems, which then overloaded its pond treatment system, creating the hydrogen sulfide levels that were beyond allowed limits...

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