Compton : Metals Firm May Be Fined for Not Reporting Toxics

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking to fine a metal products manufacturer $391,000 for allegedly failing to report toxic releases from its plants in Compton, Van Nuys and Gardena.

Coastcast Corp., a manufacturer of golf clubs and medical devices, failed to file toxic release inventory reports for it plants over a four-year period, according to an administrative complaint issued by the EPA. The Compton plant is at 3025 Victoria St.

Roberto Roman, director of personnel for Coastcast, attributed the reporting failure to an administrative error. The firm may appeal the proposed fine.

Toxic inventory reports are required under the federal “Community Right-to-Know” law, which covers manufacturers that use at least 10,000 pounds per year of any of about 340 toxic substances. The manufacturers are required to file annual reports estimating how much of the compounds they emit to the air, discharge to city sewers or transfer to waste disposal sites.

The complaint contends that Coastcast failed to file inventory reports on toxic metal wastes between 1987 and 1990.

The complaint does not accuse the firm of causing environmental harm--merely of failing to provide data that is supposed to be publicly available. Officials said they did not know how much metal waste Coastcast discharged to the environment.