Filters at St. Paul Brass Foundry insufficient

St. Paul Brass Foundry and the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have reached a settlement over past violations. The settlement, announced in mid-September, drew scrutiny from neighbors and the Frogtown Neighborhood Association (FNA).
They question whether the settlement does enough to protect the surrounding neighbors from airborne particulates emitted by the foundry. FNA is also raising red flags about communications related to the violations.
Yet another issue being raised is that of environmental justice. While the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has an increased focus on pollution issues as they impact diverse and low-income communities, the EPA has cut such programs under the Trump administration.
Minnesota officials consider Frogtown to be an environmental justice area because more than 40% of residents are people of color. More than 35% of households are considered to be low income.
The district council hosted a meeting Sept. 23, 2025 to discuss issues including community standards versus EPA standards and to decide what else can be done.
The foundry is at 954 W. Minnehaha Ave. The company has a long history in St. Paul, starting as a blacksmith shop in 1869. It has operated in Frogtown for more than 60 years. It produces aluminum, brass and bronze castings for military and commercial clients.
Its longtime location is near Frogtown Farm and Park, a commercial area, and an array of apartments and single-family homes. It is also across Minnehaha from the Masjid Al-Ihsan mosque.
Neighbors in the past have complained about odors from the facility and raised red flags about health impacts from pollution.
The EPA sanctions stem from a July 2022 surprise inspection of the facility. That was followed up in 2023 with two notices of violation. Performance on pollution filtration equipment, how records were kept and responses to EPA requests for information were called out.
Because the foundry melts and casts a variety of metals, it has a filtering system for its emissions. The EPA found that the filters used in processing emissions weren’t working as they should. That had the potential to increase pollution levels in the area.
St. Paul Brass Foundry Plant Manager David Hartigan issued a statement indicating that the company has cooperated with state and federal officials to resolve the violations and make needed improvements.
EPA Region 5 Administrator Anne Vogel issued a statement about the work done, saying that the EPA “works side-by-side with state agencies to protect human health and the environment. We’re working closely with the MPCA to ensure St. Paul residents can breathe safely. This settlement will significantly reduce emissions and the MPCA will monitor air quality in the area going forward.”
The foundry has worked with EPA and MPCA to document operations of its baghouses, the pollution control devices that filter emissions. Documentation has shown that at least one of the baghouses had pressure levels operating outside of what is considered to be an acceptable operating range. These levels were recorded in 2021 and 2022.
The EPA also took issue with the failure to address the problems.
New high-efficiency air filters were installed to reduce the particulate matter that could be released. That is part of the settlement. Another part calls for limiting lead content in metals worked with.
The particulates emitted, especially lead, are cause for concern due to the health issues lead exposure can trigger.
FNA worked with the MPCA to have a new air quality monitor placed on the roof of the Wilder Foundation Child Development Center. That was done in June.
MPCA data indicated that the foundry has been in compliance with emissions standards since the monitor was installed in June.
The EPA also set up and operated monitoring equipment near the foundry for several months in 2024.
Area residents and business owners have had past struggles with foundries and metal plating facilities. Merriam Park residents were at odds with Co-Operative Plating for many years over pollution before that company made improvements. Relationships have improved to the point that the Union Park District Council in recent years has supported expansion of the facility and its parking lot.
In 2014, the abandoned Plating Inc. factory at 888 N. Prior Ave. had to be cleaned up by the EPA at a cost of $1.6 million.
The factory abruptly shut down, leaving more than 80 open vats of cyanide and caustic chemicals. An additional 76 drums of other chemical and asbestos in the building structure itself also had to be cleaned up.