Rohner In the News

Court orders Rohner's to pay costs, penalties, comply with
cleanup

WILLMAR -- The Kandiyohi County District Court on July 23 ordered a judgment of $72,819 against Rohner's Auto Parts
Inc., located north of Willmar, for environmental cleanup costs and other penalties. The judgment orders Rohner's to
comply with a cleanup plan for hazardous materials, waste tires, and removal of salvage from wetlands.

On May 13 the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency filed a motion for default judgment after Rohner's failed to respond to
a lawsuit seeking corrective action and reimbursement of cleanup costs incurred by the state. The defendant did not
appear at a June 26 hearing on the motion.

The judgment stems from an administrative order issued by the MPCA on April 3, 2002. The administrative order required
Rohner's to comply with environmental laws and rules, remove vehicles from water, investigate numerous 55-gallon drums,
and investigate other areas of the salvage yard suspected of pollutant discharges.

The lawsuit cites numerous hazardous waste, solid waste, and air quality violations, including improper storage of
hazardous waste in 55-gallon drums, and placing vehicles and debris in wetlands. The order required Rohner's to hire an
environmental consultant and clean up the waste. Inspections during the summer of 2001 revealed that no progress had
been made.

On Aug. 22, 2001, the MPCA issued an emergency declaration and later entered the site to obtain samples for analysis.
Initial test results showed soils contaminated with high levels of lead, and petroleum contamination of the ground water
beneath the site. Subsequently, the MPCA hired a contractor to remove the drums and contaminated soil under the
drums. The contractor located and tested 123 55-gallon drums. Seventeen contained a liquid hazardous waste with a low
flashpoint. Others contained toxic substances such as lead, chromium and mercury.

In 1993, the state paid for the removal and processing of approximately 30,000 waste tires from the site. In signing the
agreement at that time, Rohner's promised to refrain from collecting or transporting any more waste tires unless approved
by local authorities.

After receiving a complaint in early 1999, the MPCA and the Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Department attempted to inspect
the property. Initially denied entrance, they obtained a court order and conducted an inspection on Oct. 5, 1999. Among
the numerous violations of pollution rules, the inspection revealed approximately 11,000 waste tires that had been
collected and stored on the property.

The judgment cites $61,619 in cleanup costs incurred by the MPCA and an $11,200 civil penalty for failure to comply with
the administrative order. It requires Rohner's to comply with corrective actions specified in the order within 60 days, and to
comply with a work plan for longer term corrective actions.

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