The Wisconsin Department of Justice has issued Alpine Sand, a frac sand mining and processing center in Trempealeau County, an $80,000 fine for failing to prevent storm water from running off into a tributary of an already impaired, polluted waterway.

Alpine Sand began operating in 2012 and was granted the necessary storm water discharge permit by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. According to the permit, Alpine Sand said it would handle all storm water that came in contact with mining, processing or stockpile areas by storing it in onsite retention ponds.

An initial visit to the site by DNR inspectors on Oct. 9, 2012, found Alpine Sand had failed to implement the plan outlined in its permit and storm water was running off the site an into a tributary of Newcomb Valley Creek.

Newcomb Valley Creek is listed as an impaired waterway, according to standards outlined by the state and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

After the 2012 visit to the site, storm water was again seen draining from the Alpine Sand site and into the Newcomb Valley Creek tributary on May 30, 2013; June 1, 2013; June 27, 2013 and Oct. 7, 2013, according to the DOJ.