Minneapolis Polluter Smith Foundry Will Cease East Phillips Operation August 15
The century-old metalworking plant faced local opposition to pollution it generated in South Minneapolis for years.
Minneapolis, MN — A century-old metal foundry in south Minneapolis will close this month, bringing relief to residents after years of pollution concerns. Smith Foundry announced it will cease all operations by August 15, abandoning previous plans to convert the foundry located in East Phillips into a metal finishing facility. This unexpected decision follows a June settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and an $80,000 fine, after the EPA uncovered excessive pollutants around the plant (PDF).
See our past coverage of Smith Foundry opposition in the video below.
In a statement, Smith Foundry president Adolfo Quiroga said the EPA rejected their agreement and had no choice but to shut down.
“They (MPCA) are in essence rejecting our agreement with the EPA,” Quiroga continued. “We are left with no other choice but to shut down the foundry. Unfortunately, our employees and their families will be impacted the most by this closure, which I deeply regret. I wish there was more we could do.”
Residents of the East Phillips neighborhood, who have long complained about the foundry’s pollution, are celebrating the closure. According to the Sahan Journal, Jolene Jones, a resident of Little Earth of United Tribes, expressed relief, highlighting the harmful impact on the community and describing the situation as environmental racism.
Rachel Thunder, also a resident of East Philips, said that this is a significant victory and an example of the power of grassroots activism:
“This victory represents a significant step towards urban environmental justice, particularly for the Native community of South Minneapolis, who has long faced disproportionate impacts from industrial pollution and environmental racism. The closure of the Smith Foundry is not merely a win for cleaner air and healthier neighborhoods but also a testament to the power of grassroots activism in challenging environmental inequities. It reaffirms our commitment to safeguarding our land, health for future generations, and underscores the necessity of continued vigilance and advocacy in the fight for justice for Indigenous peoples and communities.”
The EPA’s surprise inspection in May 2023 revealed nine Clean Air Act violations (PDF), with the foundry emitting nearly twice the allowed particulate matter between 2018 and 2023. The closure will benefit the predominantly diverse neighborhood, where over 80% of residents are people of color and 60% speak a language other than English at home.
A daycare across the street from Smith Foundry, Circulo de Amigos Childcare, reports that outside learning activities were recently limited due to the poor air quality readings from their installed monitoring system. The foundry has been in operation at 1855 E. 28th St. since 1923. Around 50 employees melt metal to cast iron components in silica sand molds.
On August 15, 2024, the Climate Justice Committee (CJC) plans to host a celebratory event. In a statement on the closing, CJC emphasized the importance of collective action and vowed to continue addressing pollution from other foundries in the area, including Northern Iron and St. Paul Brass Foundry and called for continued engagement in the fight for environmental justice in the Twin Cities.
Across 28th St. from Smith Foundry, the Roof Depot site has been another key environmental struggle in East Phillips. Last year in February an Indigenous-led occupation held space at the site and a protest march linked the issue to projects like Atlanta’s police training complex nicknamed “Cop City.” Last March the city passed an ‘Anti-protest’ measure which was thought to be a counter-move against Roof Depot protesters. Sidestepping local officials, the state legislature then funded a buyout and reconstruction of the site by the East Phillips Neighborhood Institute, which is planning a neighborhood community hub.
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