ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says the owners of a southwestern Minnesota ethanol plant have agreed to pay a $66,000 penalty to resolve alleged violations of the plant's air and water quality permits.

The alleged violations involve Heron Lake BioEnergy's ethanol plant in Heron Lake.

The MPCA says the agreement covers violations that date back to when the company began building the plant in 2005.

Among the air quality violations covered in the agreement are exceeded emission limits, failure to conduct required monitoring, and failure to maintain emissions-control equipment.

The agreement allows up to $12,000 of the penalty to be used for a project to reduce dust emissions at the plant. The company also must submit plans on how it will ensure compliance and prevent reoccurrences.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

More From AM 1240 WJON