The owner of a gravel mining business in Mower County must pay a $19,000 fine to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.  He is accused of violating solid waste laws by disposing of concrete, plastic and other materials in ponds at his gravel pit facility.

Lawrence Hansen owns and operates the business near Rose Creek.

In addition to paying the penalty, Hansen has closed the areas where he buried the materials on his property, as ordered by the MPCA.  Also required of him, covering the ponds with soil and controlling runoff from rain and snowmelt to prevent pollution of ground and surface waters.

The MPCA says Hansen allegedly violated state law for several years by operating a solid-waste facility without a permit, creating the potential to pollute surface water and groundwater.

An MPCA inspection in August 2010 found three areas of buried concrete, rebar, asphalt, plastic, treated wood and tractor tires.