Minnesota socks ethanol producer

ST. PAUL, Minn., Nov. 29 (UPI) -- Minnesota officials fined an ethanol producer $300,000 for violating state air and water pollution control standards.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency said Granite Falls Energy "emitted or created a potential to emit more regulated air and water pollutants than permitted," the Star Tribune reported Thursday. It was the largest pollution fine issued by the agency in two years.

Officials for the company, which agreed to submit compliance plans in addition to the civil penalty, weren't immediately available for comment, the newspaper said. However, in a September newsletter, Chief Executive Officer Tracey Olson expressed frustration with the MPCA's handling of its permitting issues, saying the company was working with the agency "in a constructive manner to resolve these issues."

GFE, which began operations in 2005, reach compliance standards in July, Olson said.

In 2006 and this year, Granite Falls Energy was found to have produced more ethanol than permitted, failed to inspect and maintain production and pollution control equipment, made record-keeping and reporting mistakes and exceeded water-quality discharge limits. It also was making "wet cake," a byproduct used for animal feed but subject to special handling, storage and disposal, the Minneapolis newspaper said.