State fines MN frac sand plant for air quality violations
A silica sand processing plant has agreed to pay the state for violating its air permit.
Tiller Corp. has been operating the processing and shipment center in North Branch, Minnesota, for nearly two years. The sand is used for oil and gas fracking and other industries.
Tiller has agreed to pay an $85,000 fine for air quality violations, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency said Thursday.
Tests showed the facility exceeded limits for particulate matter, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds and sulfur dioxide, the agency said. Overall, Tiller had 25 emissions violations as well as four noise violations.
State officials say Tiller has agreed to modify emissions controls and mitigate noise.
A company spokesman said the facility was built using the best available technology but two pieces of equipment that caused the emissions violations have since been removed.
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