A lesson for California

Gregg Industries iron foundry closes in California

Excerpt:

After manufacturing machine parts in this blue-collar city for more than 60 years, Gregg Industries Wednesday shut its foundry equipment down for the last time.

The closure came a week earlier than planned, and company officials said state air quality authorities were to blame.

"In my mind, California is not open for business," said Bob Ostendorf, President and CEO of Neenah Foundry Company, Gregg's parent company.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District has cited the company repeatedly in recent weeks for emitting nuisance odors into the surrounding community, in violation of air quality regulations.

Gregg officials charge that this recent scrutiny is unprecedented and reached a level of harassment in the days before the foundry's planned closure. AQMD leaders say they have simply been responding to odor complaints from neighbors and following normal protocol in citing the company.

Comment: CNBC reports they are moving to Nevada.