Limestone mining processor Linwood Mining and Minerals Corporation will pay $23,244 in civil penalties to resolve alleged violations of the federal Clean Water Act.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the company discharged pollutants from its Davenport, Iowa, facility into Donaldson Creek, a tributary to the Mississippi River, in violation of its Clean Water Act permit.
“Unauthorized pollution discharges threaten the health of our nation’s waters and public use and enjoyment of those waters,” said EPA Region 7 Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division Director David Cozad. “This settlement demonstrates EPA’s commitment to protecting the watershed and creating a level playing field for businesses who are complying with the law.”
Linwood Mining and Minerals processes lime obtained from the company’s quarry adjacent to the facility. During an October 2023 EPA inspection, runoff from the facility was observed discharging into Donaldson Creek, causing the water in the creek to be significantly murky. The company’s Clean Water Act permit prohibits unauthorized discharges into the creek.
Under the Act, industrial facilities that discharge into protected water bodies are required to obtain permits and follow requirements outlined in those permits to reduce pollution runoff. Failure to obtain a permit or follow its requirements may violate federal law.
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