BUSINESS : U.S. Sues Du Pont Over Lead Use

WASHINGTON — The federal government sued the Du Pont Co. today, seeking an $8.23-million fine for putting too much lead in leaded gasoline.

The Environmental Protection Agency said a complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in Newark, N.J., charged that a joint venture of Du Pont and three other companies put 2 billion grams too much lead--2,200 tons--in gasoline blended at Carteret, N.J., from 1983 through 1985. The company said the suit was “without merit” because the regulations it is accused of violating did not apply to it.