Suit Against Torrance Foundry Settled

Federal regulators have settled a civil suit against a Torrance brass foundry that had been charged with failing to file public reports on its releases of toxic lead and copper.

As part of the settlement, Martin Brass Foundry has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $49,798. The settlement, announced this week by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, does not include an admission of guilt, EPA spokesman Bill Glenn said.

Attempts to reach Martin Brass officials for comment were unsuccessful.

In January, EPA officials charged that, for three consecutive years in the late 1980s, the foundry violated a federal law that requires manufacturers to report on their releases of more than 300 toxic chemicals, including lead and copper.