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Environmental compliance

Environmental compliance in Minnesota

38,313 active EPA-regulated sites in Minnesota: 445 with an identified violation, 78 in significant violation, $17.7 million in penalties over five years — EPA ECHO, as of October 18, 2026, by county and facility.

Cite: FACTANKER, https://factanker.com/us-environmental-compliance/mn

How many facilities in Minnesota are regulated by the EPA, and how many are in violation (as of October 18, 2026)?

MeasureValue
Active EPA-regulated sites38,313
Sites with an identified violation445
Sites in significant violation78
Inspections and evaluations, last 5 years3,135
Formal enforcement actions, last 5 years1,205
Penalties, last 5 years (shared federal cases once)$17.7 million

How many active facilities in Minnesota fall under each EPA program?

A facility can be in several programs.

ProgramActive sites
Air (Clean Air Act)2,757
Water discharge permits (Clean Water Act, NPDES)2,448
Hazardous waste (RCRA)29,359
Drinking water systems (SDWA)6,126
Toxics Release Inventory reporters489
Greenhouse gas reporters (GHGRP)115

Which counties in Minnesota have the most facilities in significant violation of EPA rules?

CountyActive sitesIn violationSignificant violationPenalties, 5 years
Hennepin County8,400217$6.7 million
St. Louis County1,598407$5.6 million
Dakota County2,75473$206,295
Itasca County463133$12,731
Becker County29683$7,600
Steele County262103$5.3 million
Anoka County1,890162$1.3 million
Scott County1,071102$5.5 million
Sherburne County38852$5.4 million
Goodhue County34552$5.3 million
Chisago County30352$90,270
McLeod County22042$11,940
Nobles County21272$10,231
Le Sueur County19652$0
Cook County12992$0
Koochiching County12562$10,230
Swift County11252$16,002
Mahnomen County5452$1,630
Ramsey County3,445111$1.2 million
Washington County1,23081$3.2 million
Olmsted County68741$5.3 million
Carver County67551$13,557
Crow Wing County63251$4,494
Blue Earth County52751$79,146
Clay County27251$374,996
Mower County247101$50,699
Freeborn County24431$5.4 million
Mille Lacs County23921$9,324
Pine County23241$2,302
Brown County23031$15,850
Polk County21841$408,210
Lyon County19541$27,043
Aitkin County19461$15,301
Meeker County18861$16,300
Lake County16651$25,370
Renville County16251$11,810
Waseca County14731$1.3 million
Houston County12641$1,744
Roseau County12441$16,480
Pennington County10651$0
Marshall County8051$13,637
Norman County6891$7,265
Traverse County4931$0
Kittson County4731$310
Lake of the Woods County3921$0
Stearns County1,025130$96,813
Wright County61750$68,290
Otter Tail County49560$57,351
Cass County38440$4,245
Beltrami County37450$65,489
Winona County35280$5.5 million
Rice County35030$65,669
Douglas County34230$5.4 million
Kandiyohi County32960$5.4 million
Carlton County27750$183,402
Benton County27030$35,978
Morrison County26630$15,790
Hubbard County21800$3,985
Martin County21640$35,549
Isanti County21610$2,937
Nicollet County18210$5.3 million
Fillmore County17470$44,268
Todd County17210$1,847
Redwood County15460$0
Wabasha County15120$49,120
Faribault County14060$4,765
Dodge County13310$50,027
Wadena County12900$5.3 million
Chippewa County12820$2,543
Watonwan County12130$5.4 million
Pope County11820$2,000
Pipestone County11420$1,697
Rock County11120$34,000
Cottonwood County10830$41,885
Stevens County10540$5.6 million
Jackson County10020$476,888
Murray County10030$5.3 million
Yellow Medicine County9950$0
Sibley County9910$25,157
Kanabec County9420$1,685
Lac qui Parle County8200$0
Big Stone County6730$0
Clearwater County6700$27,430
Grant County6210$0
Lincoln County6220$0
Wilkin County5010$3,271
Red Lake County3100$0

Which large facilities in Minnesota are in significant violation of EPA rules?

Which large facilities in Minnesota had the highest environmental penalties in the last five years?

FacilityCompliance statusQuarters in violation (of 12)Penalties, 5 years
3M CHEMICAL OPERATIONS' COTTAGE GROVE FACILITY - ABRASIVES
Cottage Grove, MN
Significant Violation12$3.1 million
AMERICAN CRYSTAL SUGAR - EAST GRAND FORKS
East Grand Forks, MN
Significant Violation12$362,715
FEDERAL CARTRIDGE CO
Anoka, MN
No Violation Identified0$354,031
BUSCH AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES, LLC
Moorhead, MN
No Violation Identified0$323,850
NORTHWOOD PANELBOARD COMPANY
Solway, MN
No Violation Identified0$53,865
GOPHER RESOURCE LLC- STATE SPECIAL WASTE FACILITY
Eagan, MN
No Violation Identified0$52,692
AMERICAN CRYSTAL SUGAR - MOORHEAD
Moorhead, MN
Significant Violation12$48,572
CONAGRA FOODS GRAIN PROCESSING CO
Hastings, MN
No Violation Identified0$33,311
USG INTERIORS LLC - CLOQUET MN
Cloquet, MN
No Violation Identified3$33,114
GREDE LLC - ST CLOUD
Saint Cloud, MN
No Violation Identified7$33,000
HIBBING PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
Hibbing, MN
No Violation Identified2$26,960
ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND COMPANY
Marshall, MN
No Violation Identified6$26,015
UNITED TACONITE LLC - FAIRLANE PLANT
Forbes, MN
No Violation Identified1$22,980
VIKING DRILL & TOOL INC
Saint Paul, MN
Violation12$22,944
AMERICAN CRYSTAL SUGAR - CROOKSTON
Crookston, MN
Violation Identified3$21,780
NORTHLAND ALUMINUM PRODUCTS INC
Saint Louis Park, MN
No Violation Identified1$21,510
GREEN PLAINS FAIRMONT, INC
Fairmont, MN
No Violation Identified0$20,000
HERON LAKE BIOENERGY, LLC
Heron Lake, MN
No Violation Identified10$18,445
KODA ENERGY LLC
Shakopee, MN
Significant Violation12$18,125
NORTHSHORE MINING COMPANY
Silver Bay, MN
Violation12$17,500
RAYVEN LLC - OWATONNA
Owatonna, MN
Violation12$17,500
ARCELORMITTAL MINORCA MINE INC
Virginia, MN
No Violation Identified0$16,750
SHELDAHL FLEXIBLE TECHNOLOGIES, INC (WEST)
Northfield, MN
No Violation Identified5$15,758
AMERICAN PEAT TECHNOLOGY LLC
Aitkin, MN
No Violation Identified0$15,301
POET BIOREFINING - PRESTON, LLC
Preston, MN
Violation Identified4$14,918

EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), weekly national export. Counts cover active sites in the Facility Registry Service; inspections, formal actions and penalties cover the last five years, quarters in violation the last three years. The EPA attributes a case that covers several facilities to each of them; area penalty totals here count an amount shared through the same federal case once, facility figures show the amount attributed to that facility. Large facilities are Clean Air Act majors, Clean Water Act majors and large hazardous waste generators or handlers. Source record.

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