WINNEBAGO, Minn. (AP) — Owners of an ethanol plant in Winnebago have agreed to pay a $100,000 fine after pleading guilty to a federal charge of violating the Clean Water Act.
Corn Plus also agreed to make a $50,000 contribution to benefit Rice Lake.
Federal and state pollution officials charged the company Aug. 3 with discharging wastewater into the lake from 2005 to 2007. They say the water contained the pollutant biological oxygen.
The company processes corn into ethanol fuel. It pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of negligently discharging polluted wastewater, which carries a maximum fine of $200,000.
