Manufacturers Released Pollutants Into L.A. Harbor, Suits Say

Hydroform USA Inc. and Nalco Co. discharged polluted stormwater in violation of their Clean Water Act permits, Los Angeles Waterkeeper alleged in two complaints filed Thursday in federal court in California.

Aerospace product manufacturer Hydroform and chemical manufacturer Nalco both released pollutants—including zinc, ammonia, oil, and iron—from their facilities in Carson, the environmental group said. According to the lawsuits, the pollutants flowed in stormwater to the Long Beach municipal storm sewer system and then to the Dominguez Channel Estuary and Los Angeles Harbor.

Hydroform and Nalco failed to implement any of the best management practices required by their CWA permits, ...