Iron ore recovery business to pay for water violations

March 18 -- An iron ore recovery business in Missouri will pay a $138,000 fine to settle allegations that it violated the federal Clean Water Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said.

Upland Wings Inc., of Sullivan, Mo., runs an iron ore recovery operation at the former Pea Ridge mining facility. EPA inspectors said they witnessed pollutant discharges from Upland Wings’ operations into Mary’s Creek in March 2007. Those discharges contained levels of oil and grease, copper, chromium, cadmium, iron, lead and total suspended solids higher than permitted limits.

The company also was accused of dredging iron ore tailings from settling ponds and then dumping it into Mary’s Creek and impacting 18 acres of wetlands.

For more information on the federal Clean Water Act, visit http://www.epa.gov/compliance/civil/cwa/index.html

Contact Waste & Recycling News reporter Amanda Smith-Teutsch at 330-865-6166 or asmith-teutsch@crain.com