Prairie Sand & Gravel of Prairie du Chien Settles Environmental Lawsuit for Violations of State Wastewater, Storm Water, and Solid Waste Management Laws
 

MADISON Prairie Sand & Gravel, Inc., the owner and operator of 7 cement production facilities in 4 counties in southwestern Wisconsin, has been ordered to pay $125,000 in penalties and costs, and to implement special environmental projects, to settle the Department of Justices environmental enforcement action relating to the companys violations of state wastewater, storm water and solid waste management laws at the 7 facilities.

According to the complaint, filed at the request of the Department of Natural Resources, Prairie Sand & Gravel violated a number of wastewater, storm water and solid waste management requirements. These violations relate to the discharge of concrete and cement wastewater and of storm water to waters of the state, and to the disposal of concrete solid waste in waters of the state all without permits.

Specifically, the complaint alleges that Prairie Sand & Gravel:

• Discharged concrete and cement wastewater to wetland and floodplain areas without a permit at facilities in Ferryville, Gays Mills, Hillsboro, Richland Center, Boscobel, Muscoda and Prairie du Chien.
• Discharged Storm water without a permit at facilities in Ferryville, Gays Mills, Hillsboro, Richland Center, Boscobel and Muscoda.
• Disposed of solid waste in wetland and floodplain areas or creeks without a license at facilities in Ferryville, Gays Mills and Richland Center.
• Operated facilities without a storm water pollution prevention plan at facilities in Ferryville, Gays Mills, Hillsboro, Richland Center, Boscobel, Muscoda and Prairie du Chien.
• Placed material in wetlands without certification of compliance with state water quality standards at facilities in Ferryville, Richland Center and Boscobel.
• Placed materials in creek tributaries to the Kickapoo River and Baraboo River without a permit at facilities in Gays Mills and Hillsboro.

In 2006 and 2007, Prairie Sand & Gravel restored the environment at all 7 facilities.

Assistant Attorney General JoAnne F. Kloppenburg prosecuted the case. Dane County Circuit Court Judge Shelley Gaylord approved the settlement.