The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has fined Winona Excavating Co. Inc., Michael's Demolition and Recycling Inc. and their principals, David Griffin and Michael Andring $100,000 for violating a court order that barred the firm from doing demolition work, the MPCA said.

The MPCA settled charges against the owners of Winona Excavating in April 2002. At the time, the agency alleged the company improperly handled asbestos and failed to remove mercury-containing devices. As part of the settlement, Winona Excavating was barred from doing demolition work, MPCA reported.

Days after signing that agreement, however, Winona Excavating created a front company that continued to do work using Winona Excavating equipment and employees, the agency alleged. The front company's name combined "MPCA" with "an acronym for a common obscenity," MPCA said in a press statement.

The $100,000 penalty will be reduced to $60,000, however, following an agreement reached between MPCA and the company. As part of that agreement, Winona Excavating has pledged to stop performing work for a year. It has also completed a $40,000 cleanup project at a residential property built on an abandoned dump site.