MINNEAPOLIS — More than 100 people rallied at the Smith Foundry in Minneapolis on Friday.
The protest was organized after the Environmental Protection Agency and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency conducted separate inspections, with each group finding multiple environmental regulatory violations.
"They have lied about hurting us, their toxic pollution they're putting in the air and now it came out," said Cassandra Holmes, who grew up in the neighborhood and works less than a mile from the Smith Foundry.
The Sahan Journal was first to report on an EPA filing that showed multiple violations of the Clean Air Act in the past five years; The EPA filing said the foundry emitted nearly double the amount of air pollution state permits allow, did not maintain equipment designed to reduce the pollution, and failed to notify the state about equipment failures as required.
The foundry said it is working with regulators to address and correct the issues identified in the EPA report.
The facility is currently owned by Canada-based investment group Zynik Capital, according to the group's website. In a statement to KARE 11, the group purchased the foundry in 2022.
"We are committed to meeting safe standards for our neighbors and union workers. We look forward to addressing all concerns with the community at the upcoming community meeting," said the statement from the foundry.
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