TWO HARBORS, Minn. (From news reports) -- Louisiana-Pacific has been fined $15,775 for stormwater and wetland violations, according to a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) enforcement investigation. The company operates a wood-board manufacturing facility in Two Harbors.
MPCA staff inspections in August and November 2023 found:
- Discharge of polluted water into a stormwater system that discharged into a stream that runs through the Louisiana-Pacific property.
- In July 2023, a berm on an earthen basin containing log-conditioning pond sludge collapsed, spilling its contents into a wetland, and the facility failed to notify the Minnesota Duty Officer of the discharge.
The forest products company released a statement saying "Environmental stewardship is central to our mission, and we are committed to responsibly managing our environmental footprint. Our team undergoes comprehensive training and adheres to all industry standards to ensure effective environmental controls, including at our Two Harbors mill, which has been a high-performing facility for decades."
The stormwater discharges created nuisance conditions that discolored and reduced the water quality of the stream, MPCA said in a news release. The berm failure led to increased sludge in the wetland that was potentially harmful to aquatic life.
As corrective action, the facility was required to update its stormwater pollution prevention plan, implement additional stormwater treatment options, end its storage of the log-conditioning pond sludge within the earthen basin, mitigate the wetland impacts, and train staff on stormwater-related items at the facility.
"While we aim to uphold the highest standards, unforeseen events can occasionally arise. In 2023, stormwater and wetland issues were identified at the facility. Since then, we have collaborated closely with the MPCA to implement enhanced stormwater treatment measures," L-P said.
"We take our responsibilities seriously and are focused on preventing similar occurrences in the future," the company added.
