Minn. sugar beet company cited for

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — American Crystal Sugar has agreed to pay a $185,000 civil penalty to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for air quality violations.

The agency said Tuesday that problems were found at the company’s sugar beet processing factories in Moorhead, Crookston and East Grand Forks. The allegations include violations at the three factories during 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Specifically, the settlement covers the improper release of fine particles and the release of smelly hydrogen sulfide gas from decomposing sugar beets and sugar beet processing waste.

Along with the fine, the company agreed to address the release of the gas from those three factories in the future.

American Crystal Sugar President David Berg said his company has made signficant progress in reducing odors and is spending several million dollars on projects that will reduce the potential for odors to be generated in the future.

“The penalty is unfortunate, we wish it didn’t occur,” he said. “More importantly, we regret there have been odors from some of our facilities over the years.”

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On the Net:

American Crystal Sugar: http://www.crystalsugar.com

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency: http:// www.pca.state.mn.us

Tags: crystal sugar, minnesota, fine, pollution