Connecticut Attorney General William Tong sued the owner of a North Haven metal finishing business, NikLyn, and related companies for what it says are serial violations of the state’s air pollution control regulations.
William TongBruno F. Suraci, Jr. was sued on behalf of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), and it wasn’t the first time. Connecticut first sued Suraci, Suraci Incorporated, Suraci Metal Finishing, and Suraci Paint and Powder Coating in 2013 for violations of the state’s hazardous waste and air pollution control laws tied to his metal finishing businesses adjacent to the Quinnipiac River in New Haven. Suraci was ordered to pay $743,500 in civil penalties in 2014. Of that penalty, the state says $733,500 remains outstanding.
Tong says that since then, Suraci opened a series of new companies, Source One Solutions, Source One Realty Holdings, and Source One Holding, that operate at 400 Sackett Point Road in North Haven.
“Under all of these businesses, Suraci has conducted activities that violate environmental statutes and regulations,” Tong says. “NikLyn Corporation conducts a variety of metal surface prep applications, including abrasive blasting and wet spray painting. Given their potential to emit harmful air contaminants that impair public health and the environment, DEEP highly regulates these operations to limit and control pollution and, in many cases, requires permits when emissions exceed designated thresholds. To date, defendants have not applied for a permit from DEEP or otherwise acted to comply with DEEP regulations to limit and control pollution.”
Connecticut officials say they received a complaint about plumes of dust from the business that coat nearby cars, caused by sandblasting without the necessary containment measures. DEEP inspectors visited the business, and the state says it found that NikLyn had failed to deploy an adequate containment system to control airborne particulate matter from the sandblasting operation. DEEP issued notices of violation in both 2023 and 2025.
“Environmental violations have persisted, and the company remains out of compliance with air quality statutes and regulations,” Tong says.
The lawsuit was filed in Hartford Superior Court and seeks an order requiring Suraci to come into compliance with all environmental laws and to pay all outstanding penalties. The complaint also seeks new fines of up to $25,000 per day per violation.
“Bruno Suraci has flagrantly ignored environmental protection laws for over a decade, has moved and shifted unregistered and unpermitted companies to evade accountability, and continues to skirt the law,” Tong says. “His actions have polluted our state and exposed workers and neighbors to hazardous dust and waste. We are suing, and we’re demanding full payment of all fines owed in addition to new serious penalties to ensure full compliance with all environmental laws.”
