West Fraser fined $15,250 for Solway plant air permit violations

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency fined West Fraser $15,250 for air permit violations at its engineered wood facility in Solway, Beltrami County, citing late performance tests and months of excess hazardous emissions. Investigators found the plant submitted carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide performance tests more than 100 days late and exceeded its hazardous air pollution limits from March 2023 through November 2023.

The penalty follows corrective actions by the facility, which completed the overdue performance tests and submitted a new air permit to the agency. The MPCA said the agency remains committed to protecting human health and the environment by enforcing rules and limiting pollution emissions and discharges from facilities. The agency noted that when companies fail to comply, resulting pollution can be harmful to people and the environment.

For local residents, the enforcement action matters because timely testing and permit compliance are core tools state regulators use to track emissions and protect air quality in northern Minnesota's timber country. Carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide are monitored closely because they contribute to respiratory problems and form secondary pollutants. While the MPCA did not release specific emission levels with the news release, the agency flagged the exceedances as a basis for enforcement and the monetary penalty.

The MPCA’s penalty calculation considers the seriousness of impacts, whether violations are first-time or repeat, and any economic benefit a company gained by not complying promptly. The $15,250 fine reflects those factors in this instance and signals the agency’s posture toward delayed reporting and permit noncompliance. Completing the late tests and filing a new permit returned the facility to compliance, but the MPCA’s statement emphasizes ongoing oversight to ensure continued adherence to limits.

West Fraser’s Solway operation is part of the region’s engineered wood and forest-products sector, a significant contributor to local employment and the regional economy. That economic role heightens community interest when environmental compliance issues arise, as residents weigh both job impacts and public health considerations. Late reporting reduces near-term transparency for neighbors and local officials who rely on regulator data to assess air quality trends.

Going forward, the MPCA indicated it will continue to enforce permit requirements and recover any economic advantage from delayed compliance where applicable. For Beltrami County residents, the outcome means the Solway plant has taken steps to correct past violations, but state oversight will remain the mechanism for ensuring those corrections are sustained and that local air quality protections are maintained.